INDIAN 


^ 


o •  > . 


BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

•0- 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


CALIF.  FICTION 
COLLECTION 
NOT  FOR  USE 


w 


N.Y 


Indian  and  Scout 


BY  CAPTAIN   F.  S.  BRERETON 
In  crown  8vo,  cloth  extra.    Illustrated. 

The  Great  Aeroplane.    A  Thrilling  Tale  of  Adventure.     6*. 
Indian  and  Scout.     A  Tale  of  the  Gold  Rush  to  California.     $s- 
A  Hero  of  Sedan.     A  Tale  of  the  Franco- Prussian  War.     6s. 
How  Canada  was  Won.     A  Tale  of  Wolfe  and  Quebec.     6s. 
With  Wolseley  to  Kumasi.    A  Story  of  the  First  Ashanti  War. 

6s. 

Roger  the  Bold.     A  Tale  of  the  Conquest  of  Mexico.     6s. 
A  Knight  of  St.  John.    A  Tale  of  the  Siege  of  Malta.     6*. 
With   the   Dyaks  of  Borneo.     A  Tale  of  the  Head  Hunters. 

6*. 
Foes  of  the  Red  Cockade.    A  Story  of  the  French  Revolution. 

6s. 
John  Bargreave's  Gold.    A  Tale  of  Adventure  in  the  Caribbean. 

Ss. 
Roughriders  of  the  Pampas.     A  Tale  of  Ranch  Life  in  South 

America.     5^. 
Jones  of  the  64th.    A  Tale  of  the  Battles  of  Assaye  and  Las- 

waree.     5*. 
With    Roberts    to    Candahar.      A  Tale  of  the  Third  Afghan 

War.     $s. 

A  Hero  of  Lucknow.     A  Tale  of  the  Indian  Mutiny.     5*. 
A  Soldier  of  Japan.     A  Tale  of  the  Russo-Japanese  War.     5*. 
In  the   Grip  of  the   Mullah.      A  Tale  of  Adventure  in  Somali- 
land.     $s. 
Under  the  Spangled  Banner.     A  Tale  of  the  Spanish-American 

War.     5s. 
In    the    King's    Service.     A  Tale  of  Cromwell's  Invasion  of 

Ireland.     5-r. 

A  Gallant  Grenadier.    A  Story  of  the  Crimean  War.     3*.  6d. 
With  Rifle  and  Bayonet.     A  Story  of  the  Boer  War.     y.  6d. 
One  of  the  Fighting  Scouts.     A  Tale  of  Guerrilla  Warfare  in 

South  Africa.     y.  6d. 

The  Dragon  of  Pekin.     A  Story  of  the  Boxer  Revolt.     y.  6d. 
With  Shield  and  Assegai.     A  Tale  of  the  Zulu  War.     y.  6d. 


LONDON :  BLACKIE  &  SON,  LIMITED,  50  OLD  BAILEY,  E.G. 


"JACK  SWUNG  HIS  HEAD  ROUND" 


Indian  and  Scout 


A  Tale  of  the  Gold  Rush 
to  California/ 


BY 


CAPTAIN    F.    S.    BRERETON 

Author  ot  "  The  Great  Aeroplane  "  "  A  Hero  of  Sedan  " 
"John  Bargreave's  Gold"  "How  Canada  was  Won" 
"Roughriders  of  the  Pampas  "&c.^   •,  ,      * 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  CYRUS  CUNEO 


H.  M.  CALDWELL  COMPANY 
NEW  YORK  BOSTON 

Printed  in  Great  Britain 


(-3 


••.».       ^  . « .  ^.  r  i 

*!  •.•"       .  v   !:•*••   • 


Contents 


CHAP.  Page 

I.  TUSKER  JOE        -       -       -       .       .       •  ,-•  -       -9 

II.  JACK  KINGSLEY'S  DILEMMA        .      V      -       -       -21 

III.  A  RUDE  AWAKENING          »       •       .       -       -       -    35 

IV.  THE  ROAD  TO  CALIFORNIA 52 

V.  ON  THE  RAILWAY 65 

VI.  A  HOLD-UP 80 

VII.  FRIENDS  AND  HUNTERS      ..*...    94 

VIII.  OUT  ON  THE  PRAIRIE 109 

IX.  ONLY  A  YOUNGSTER   ...       .       .       .       .  128 

X.  A  BUFFALO  HUNT       --.....  146 

XI.  SURROUNDED  BY  INDIANS  -       -       -       -       -       -  165 

XII.  A  TIGHT  CORNER       -       •       -       -       -       -       -  179 

XIII.  DODGING  THE  ENEMY 192 

XIV.  AN  ATTACK  IN  FORCE 205 

XV.  GIVING  'EM  PEPPER 220 

XVI.  THE  BASHFUL  JACOB 239 

XVII.  BLACK  BILL  TO  THE  RESCUE 258 

XVIII.  THE  GOLD  RUSH 275 

5 


VI 


Contents 


CHAP. 

XIX.  TOM  MAKES  A  FIND 288 

XX.  AN  AMBUSCADE 301 

XXI.  THE  OUTWITTING  OF  TUSKER 3H 

XXII.  A  DOUBLE  RECOGNITION 327 

XXIII.  STEVE  LEADS  THE  WAY 341 

XXIV.  A  GREAT  ACQUITTAL 360 


Illustrations 


Page 

"JACK  SWUNG  HIS  HEAD  ROUND"        -        -      Frontispiece  154 

TUSKER  JOE'S  CHALLENGE 10 

"HE  SAW  THE  RASCAL  CRUMPLE  INTO  A  HEAP"  89 

"THE  INDIAN  CHIEF  THREW  UP  HIS  ARMS"       ...  212 

RUNNING  A  RISK 271 

JACK   FETCHES  THE   RlFLES    -          -          -          „          *         .          .  324 


CHAPTER  I 

Tusker    Joe 

"  EF  there  was  a  man  here  as  was  a  man,  guess  it'd  be 
some  use  waitin'  and  talkin'.  But  as  thar  ain't  sich  a 
thing  handy,  why,  I'll  git.  Once  and  fer  all,  aer  thar  a 
one  here  as  don't  think  I  did  it  fair?  Eh?" 

The  man  who  spoke  swept  his  eyes  round  the  narrow, 
ugly  room,  and  pulled  the  brim  of  his  wideawake  hat 
down  over  his  eyes  just  a  trifle  lower;  whether  to  hide 
the  scowl  in  them,  or  the  fear  which  lurked  in  his 
dilated  pupils,  it  would  be  difficult  to  say.  Tusker  Joe 
was  not  anxious  that  his  companions  in  the  room,  which 
went  by  the  name  of  saloon,  should  guess  that  he  was 
anything  but  self-composed  and  full  of  courage.  But 
to  give  the  bare  truth,  Tusker  Joe  was  by  no  means 
easy  in  his  mind.  Even  the  smoking  revolver  in  his 
hand,  in  which  four  unused  cartridges  yet  remained, 
failed  to  reassure  him.  It  was  not  only  fear  for  his 
own  wretched  life  that  haunted  him.  Tusker  Joe  had 
a  conscience  at  this  day,  and  it  smote  him  just  then 
harder  than  all  else.  Even  as  he  swept  his  eyes  round 
the  room  he  was  struggling  hard  to  drown  that  ready 
conscience,  to  still  the  voice  which  whispered  per- 
sistently in  his  ear:  "Murderer,  murderer!" 

"  Yer  don't  speak,"  he  went  on,  after  a  minute's  awk- 


io  Indian  and  Scout 

ward  silence,  raising  his  voice  till  he  almost  shouted  the 
words,  as  if  the  sounds  helped  to  encourage  him  and 
drown  that  still,  small  whisper.  "Then  I  takes  it  that 
ye're  all  in  agreement.  It  was  fair  done.  Me  alone 
against  them  two,  and  they  quarrelsome.  I'd  stop  and 
face  the  sheriff  hisself  with  that.  But  what's  the  use? 
A  man  has  ter  work  nowadays,  and  a  sheriff  wastes 
time.  Yer  can  jest  give  him  the  facts  for  yerselves; 
but,  at  the  same  time,  yer  can  jest  mind.  Tusker  Joe 
ain't  a  playsome  girl.  He  ain't  a  weaklin',  likely  ter 
take  sauce  from  no  one.  And  lies  he  don't  have  at 
no  price,  not  at  all.  Ef  there's  a  man  here  as  feels 
at  this  second  as  he  don't  agree  that  it  war  all  fair 
and  square,  jest  let  him  speak  up.  That's  what  I  say. 
Let  him  open  his  mouth,  here  and  now,  before  what's 
left  of  us." 

The  man's  voice  was  truculent  now.  His  words 
deafened  those  within  the  saloon,  and  there  was  no 
excuse  for  not  hearing  them.  But  no  answer  came. 
Not  one  of  the  three  men  seated  at  a  table  at  one 
end  ventured  to  open  his  lips.  Instead,  all,  as  if  by 
common  arrangement,  kept  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  wall 
opposite  them,  as  if  intent  on  counting  the  planks  which 
helped  to  make  it,  while  their  open  palms  lay  exposed 
on  the  table. 

Right  opposite  Tusker  Joe  a  solitary  individual  sat 
awkwardly  on  a  rough  bench.  He  was  a  man  of  some 
thirty  years  of  age,  with  red  hair  and  beard,  and  a  weak 
expression.  The  long,  pointed  chin,  the  narrow  eyes 
switching  restlessly  from  side  to  side,  even  the  diminu- 
tive proportions  of  this  fellow,  spoke  of  indecision,  of  one 
accustomed  to  follow  and  not  to  lead,  of  one  inclined 


TUSKER  JOE'S   CHALLENGE     ^         ,  ,  , 


Tusker  Joe  n 

at  all  times  to  shirk  difficulties.  Red  Sam,  for  that 
was  the  name  he  went  by  in  this  mining  camp,  was 
not  even  his  own  master.  He  was  a  hired  labourer, 
who  had  come  to  the  mining  camps  not  to  test  his  own 
luck,  and  to  risk  all  he  had  in  the  hope  that  hard  work 
and  a  strenuous  fight  with  Dame  Fortune  would  bring 
him  the  riches  which  many  a  man  had  won.  Sam  had 
not  the  courage  for  such  a  venture.  He  preferred  good 
wages,  and  a  certainty,  to  any  risk.  He  was  not  quar- 
relsome, nor  over-talkative,  and  he  did  not  frequent  the 
drinking  saloon  at  Salem  Falls  more  often  than  others. 
He  was  just  an  average  miner,  content  with  his  lot  so 
far,  and  indistinguishable  from  the  others  who  worked 
at  the  camp  save  in  respect  to  his  beard.  He  wore  the 
same  gaudy  shirt  and  neckerchief,  high  boots,  a  wide- 
brimmed  hat,  and  a  belt  big  enough  to  circle  a  horse, 
in  the  holster  of  which  was  a  revolver.  Tusker's  eyes, 
which  during  the  last  few  moments  had  been  searching 
the  cracked  mirror  opposite  him,  at  the  back  of  the 
bar  on  which  he  leaned,  suddenly  lit  upon  Sam — Red 
Sam,  the  weakling — whom  all  in  that  camp  knew  to  be 
harmless  and  the  reverse  of  dangerous.  And  as  they 
did  so,  that  still,  small  voice  whispered  with  even  greater 
persistence  in  Tusker's  ear:  "Murderer,  murderer!"  till 
the  man  became  savage.  He  swung  round  again,  his 
eyes  flashing,  his  pistol  pointed. 

"What's  that?"  he  demanded  menacingly.  "Yer 
didn't  speak,  I  know,  but  yer  looked  what  yer  thought. 
Draw!" 

Sam  was  utterly  disconcerted.  Had  he  been  able,  he 
would  have  straightway  sunk  beneath  the  rough  boards 
which  formed  the  floor  of  the  saloon.  To  retreat,  to 


12  Indian  and  Scout 

get  away  from  such  a  terrible  man  and  such  an  ugly 
encounter,  was  all  that  he  desired.  But  that  pointed 
pistol  held  him  rooted  to  the  spot. 

"Me?"  he  stuttered,  gripping  the  bench  with  both 
hands.  "Me  think  anything!  Why " 

He  stared  at  Tusker  with  wide-open  mouth,  and  eyes 
which  were  dilated  with  terror. 

"Yer  looked  it,"  retorted  Tusker,  his  face  scowling 
horribly.  "Ef  I  thought  for  one  moment  as  yer'd  for- 
get, I'd  put  daylight  clean  through  yer  now.  Clean 
through  yer,  Sam." 

The  very  idea  of  such  a  terrible  happening  almost 
caused  Red  Sam  to  faint.  He  positively  shivered,  and 
when  his  shifting  eyes  happened  to  pass  to  the  far  end 
of  the  saloon,  where  were  the  men  whom  Tusker  had 
already  fired  upon,  the  shiver  became  a  tremble.  His 
fingers  twitched  as  he  endeavoured  to  clutch  the  bench, 
his  hair  stood  erect  beneath  the  wide-brimmed  hat,  which 
gave  this  modest  fellow  such  a  desperate  appearance  at 
ordinary  times,  while  the  end  of  his  beard  shook. 

"Clean  through  yer,"  repeated  Tusker  grimly:  the 
sight  of  this  harmless  and  trembling  individual  seem- 
ing to  appease  the  bully  for  the  moment.  "Through 
yer  and  any  others  as  dares  ter  think — think,  mind  yer 
— that  all  warn't  fair  and  square.  For  the  last  time,  aer 
thar  a  man  here  as  has  got  a  word  ter  say  agin  it." 

Tall  and  broad,  his  face  and  neck  and  arms  burned 
to  a  brick  red  by  exposure  to  the  sun,  Tusker  Joe  would 
have  at  ordinary  times  been  pronounced  a  handsome 
fellow.  His  long,  curling,  black  moustache  set  off 
features  which,  though  never  pleasant,  were  regular  and 
distinctly  prepossessing.  His  red  mining  shirt,  cordu- 


Tusker  Joe  13 

roy  breeches,  and  high  boots  made  up,  with  the  bril- 
liant handkerchief  round  his  throat  and  the  draggled 
and  untidy  hat  upon  his  head,  an  appearance  which  was 
picturesque,  if  nothing  more;  while  the  breadth  of  his 
shoulders,  and  the  size  of  his  limbs,  told  of  a  man  used 
to  labour,  of  a  strong  fellow,  able  to  look  well  to  him- 
self. Unfortunately,  however,  there  was  something 
about  the  face  which  detracted  from  the  general  air 
of  picturesqueness.  Tusker  Joe's  features  were  marked 
by  heavy  lines,  some  across  a  somewhat  narrow  fore- 
head, and  others  about  the  corners  of  the  eyes  and 
the  mouth.  Even  at  rest  the  features  wore  an  air  the 
reverse  of  frank  and  straightforward.  The  eyes  were 
shifty,  even  more  so  than  those  of  the  weak  Red  Sam. 
And  now,  when  his  passions  were  stirred,  the  face  which 
looked  out  from  beneath  the  pulled-down  brim  of  his 
hat  was  seamed  with  other  lines — lines  which  told  of 
hate,  of  avarice,  of  fear,  of  a  thousand  passions  flitting 
through  the  man's  mind.  Bluff  and  brag  at  his  best, 
Tusker  Joe  was  in  those  days  too  young  a  man  to 
carry  off  such  a  situation  with  absolute  tranquillity. 
True,  he  had  been  in  saloon  brawls  before,  and  had 
shot  men;  but  he  had  never  murdered.  In  those 
rough  days,  down  at  the  diggings,  when  men  spent  a 
goodly  part  of  their  gains  in  the  saloons,  quarrels  were 
of  frequent  occurrence,  and  revolvers  came  readily  to 
the  hand.  Bullies  arose,  too,  and  for  a  while  terrorized 
even  these  lawless,  gambling  men.  But  sheer  murder 
was  hardly  attempted,  for  then  even  the  miners  arose 
in  anger,  and  when  that  was  the  case  lynch  law  was 
the  order — a  short  shrift  was  given  to  the  guilty  party, 
and  either  he  was  riddled  with  bullets  or,  if  a  rope 


14  Indian  and  Scout 

happened  to  be  handy,  he  was  strung  to  the  nearest 
tree.  Often  enough  there  was  no  suitable  tree,  and 
then  the  bullets  of  the  miners  finished  the  matter. 

Tusker  Joe  had  turned  from  Red  Sam  by  now,  and 
for  one  brief  moment  cast  his  eyes  to  that  far  end 
where  lay  the  men  at  whom  he  had  fired.  Even  he 
shuddered  ever  so  little,  and  from  contemplating  them 
turned  to  the  rough  bar  again  and  leaned  one  arm  upon 
it.  Then  his  eyes  sought  the  cracked  mirror  which  was 
nailed  to  the  boarded  wall  behind  the  bar,  reflecting 
from  its  golden-circled  frame  the  whole  of  the  saloon. 
In  the  glass  he  could  see  the  three  men  seated  at  the 
table,  their  palms  still  prominently  exposed.  Not  one 
had  moved  so  much  as  a  finger.  They  sat  riveted  to 
their  chairs,  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  plank  wall  as  before, 
knowing  that  Tusker  Joe's  eyes  were  upon  them,  and 
that  to  carry  a  hand  to  a  pocket  meant  a  shot  from  his 
revolver  in  an  instant. 

"Cowed!  Jest  don't  dare  ter  move  a  finger,  the 
skunks,"  growled  the  murderer  beneath  his  breath. 
"And  thar  ain't  one  of  'em  as  don't  know  Tusker 
well  enough  ter  guess  what'll  follow  if  they  get  ter 
blabbin'.  Blabbin'!  What's  that  I  said?  Thar  ain't 
no  need  ter  fear  that.  It  was  fair  and  square.  Lord 
Tom  had  no  need  fer  ter  call  me  a  liar  and  a  thief. 
He  knew  that  a  man  don't  take  sich  words  hereabouts, 
and  that  bullets  git  flyin'  when  names  are  called.  He 
asked  fer  trouble,  and,  by  thunder,  he's  had  it!  As  fer 
Jim,  he'd  a  hand  at  his  shooter,  and  ef  he's  gone  under, 
reckon  it's  his  own  fault.  Yer  don't  catch  me  waitin' 
fer  a  man  ter  shoot." 

For  some  two  minutes  he  stood  at  the  bar.  his  unsee- 


Tusker  Joe  15 

ing  eyes  fixed  upon  the  reflecting  mirror,  while  his  busy 
brain  invented  excuse  after  excuse  for  the  act  of  which 
he  had  just  been  guilty.  But,  strive  as  he  might  to 
gloss  over  this  shooting  affray,  and  to  paint  his  own 
side  of  the  squabble  in  rosy  colours,  that  still,  small 
voice  returned  with  persistence.  "  Murderer  1  murderer!" 
It  echoed  even  louder  in  his  ears,  till  the  man  was  dis- 
tracted and  desperate. 

"  Here!  fill  it  up,  will  yer?"  he  shouted,  thrusting  for- 
ward an  empty  glass,  and  menacing  the  frightened  negro 
behind  the  bar  with  his  revolver.  "To  the  brim,  and 
slippy  with  it!  Hur!  Now,  again!  Hur!  Thar's  the 
price  fer  it.  Keep  the  change." 

Gulping  down  two  glasses  of  spirit  within  a  few 
seconds,  he  threw  the  glass  to  the  floor,  where  it  smashed 
into  a  hundred  pieces,  and  then  tossed  a  dollar  on  to  the 
bar.  By  now  a  haunted  look  had  come  into  the  man's 
face.  The  fingers  which  pulled  the  expended  cartridges 
from  his  weapon  and  replenished  the  chambers  trembled 
obviously,  The  man  was  become  desperate.  His  con- 
science was  driving  him  hard.  But  with  it  all  he  was 
cunning.  He  kept  his  eyes  on  the  men  at  the  table, 
and  then  swung  round  to  confront  Red  Sam,  causing 
that  miserable  individual  to  shiver  more  than  ever. 
Then,  with  never  a  glance  to  the  far  end  of  the  room,  he 
backed  to  the  door  of  the  saloon,  pulled  it  open  with  his 
foot,  and  backed  out.  The  door  slammed  to,  and  Tusker 
was  gone.  Those  who  crossed  to  the  window  to  watch 
him  saw  the  miner  running  down  the  street  for  his  life, 
and,  conscious  now  that  they  were  safe  themselves,  they 
shook  their  fists  at  his  retreating  figure,  and  swore  beneath 
their  breath. 


16  Indian  and  Scout 

"  I  knew  as  it  would  come  from  him,"  exclaimed  one 
of  them,  proceeding  to  fill  a  pipe.  "Tusker  Joe  is 
bound  ter  break  out  somewhares,  and  become  camp 
bully  and  murderer.  Up  to  date  he  ain't  dared  attempt 
anything  over  much,  but  ter-day  he's  done  it.  He  won't 
never  look  back.  Mark  my  words,  mate,  he'll  get  wusser 
and  wusser.  He's  the  sort  that  goes  on  from  one  thing 
ter  another,  and  don't  stop  till  the  sheriff's  got  him,  or 
his  mates  has  took  the  law  up  themselves,  and  has  strung 
him  six  foot  up.  It  war  all  a  plant." 

"  It  war,"  agreed  a  second.  "  Tusker  had  made  up  his 
mind  fer  a  ruction,  and  Lord  Tom  war  a  fool  to  help 
him.  Ef  he  hadn't  been  green,  as  green  as  grass,  he'd 
have  known  what'd  happen  when  he  got  ter  callin' 
names.  He  war  too  free  with  'em,  and  had  got  no  use 
fer  his  own  shooter.  But  I'm  surprised  at  Jim.  He's 
been  out  this  way  nigh  most  of  his  life,  and  he  must 
have  known.  Seems  he  was  took  by  surprise;  fer  he 
could  shoot,  he  could." 

They  nodded  their  heads  at  one  another,  and  slowly 
filled  and  lit  their  pipes,  while  they  held  their  eyes  to 
the  window,  fearful  that  Tusker  Joe  might  yet  return. 
Not  that  he  would  have  terrorized  them  altogether. 
When  a  man  finds  another  holding  a  revolver  levelled 
at  his  head,  and  knows  that  the  slightest  movement  or 
protest  will  bring  a  bullet  in  his  direction,  he  by  force  of 
circumstances  keeps  very  still.  Even  if  he  happens  to 
be  a  courageous  man — and  many  of  these  miners  were 
undoubtedly  that  —  common  sense  teaches  him  not  so 
much  as  to  lift  a  finger.  He  swallows  his  chagrin,  and 
registers  the  vow  to  live  for  another  day,  when  matters 
may  be  more  equal.  Tusker  Joe  had  got  the  drop  on 

(0179) 


Tusker  Joe  17 

his  comrades  in  the  saloon,  to  use  a  mining  expression. 
He  had  drawn  his  revolver  at  the  very  beginning  of 
the  quarrel,  and  all  knew  that  he  was  a  dead  shot.  But 
now  he  could  have  no  advantage,  and  had  he  appeared 
again,  he  would  undoubtedly  have  met  with  strenuous 
opposition. 

"  He's  cleared,  yer  bet,"  said  the  third  man  after  a 
while.  "  Tusker  knows  as  thar  won't  be  no  livin'  fer 
him  here  after  this,  and  he's  bound  ter  git.  Suppose 
it's  a  case  fer  the  sheriff?" 

"Yep;  thar  ain't  nothin'  more  ter  do.  Guess  the 
verdict'll  be  murder.  Thar's  bound  to  be  a  howl  in 
Salem  Falls,  and  men'll  get  ter  swear  that  they'll  shoot 
Tusker  on  sight.  Then  it'll  blow  over.  Tusker  won't 
be  fool  enough  ter  show  up  this  side  of  the  grave,  and 
things'll  be  forgotten.  Suppose  we  git  a  move  on." 

The  three  stepped  towards  the  door,  Red  Sam  rising 
at  the  same  time  and  joining  them,  evidently  with  the 
idea  of  obtaining  some  sort  of  protection  from  their 
company.  He  lifted  the  latch,  and  was  about  to  emerge, 
when  a  sound  came  from  the  far  end  of  the  room,  bring- 
ing the  four  facing  round  in  that  direction.  And  this  is 
what  they  saw. 

Close  to  the  far  wall  was  a  second  table — a  long 
affair  composed  of  rough  boards,  with  a  bench  perched 
just  behind  it,  between  the  table  and  the  wall.  On  this 
bench  a  man  was  seated,  with  his  hands  sprawled  out 
on  the  table  top,  and  his  head  resting  on  his  hands.  He 
might  have  been  asleep  for  all  one  could  tell,  as  his 
posture  was  the  most  natural  one  possible.  Certainly 
one  would  never  have  imagined  that  he  was  the  victim 
of  a  shooting  affray.  But  Lord  Tom  was  dead,  without 

(0179)  2 


is  Indian  and  Scout 

any  doubt.  Closer  inspection  of  his  body  showed  a  hole 
in  his  forehead,  now  reclining  on  his  hands,  while  an 
ugly  dark  pool  was  spreading  out  between  his  fingers. 
At  his  feet  lay  a  man  as  dead  apparently  as  he.  His 
feet  were  pointed  towards  the  centre  of  the  saloon,  while 
his  head  and  shoulders  lay  beneath  the  bench,  almost 
directly  under  his  dead  comrade.  It  seemed  that  he 
had  been  holding  a  paper  when  the  affray  started,  for 
he  had  dragged  that  to  the  ground  with  him,  and  it  now 
covered  his  face  and  chest,  while  one  arm  peeped  from 
beneath  it,  exposing  the  hand  to  view,  with  a  revolver 
gripped  in  the  latter.  A  moment  before  Jim  had  lain 
an  inert  mass.  Now,  at  the  sound  of  departure  of  the 
others,  he  stirred  and  called  gently  to  them.  Then  the 
hand  which  gripped  the  revolver  loosed  its  hold,  and 
gently  drew  the  paper  from  his  face. 

"Jest  pull  me  out  from  under  this  here  consarn,"  he 
asked  in  the  coolest  possible  voice.  "  Now  set  me  up 
on  the  table.  Gently,  boys!  That  ere  chap's  broken 
my  arm.  Now,  Peter,  something  wet  ter  drink,  quick 
as  yer  can." 

They  lifted  him  on  to  the  table  very  gently;  for  these 
miners,  when  all  was  said  and  done,  were  exceedingly 
good  and  kind  to  one  another  when  in  distress.  And 
there  they  supported  him,  while  the  negro  behind  the 
bar  mixed  some  spirit  and  water  and  brought  it. 

"Huh!  that'll  make  me  wake  up,"  said  Jim,  still  cool 
and  collected.  "  So  Lord  Tom's  dead  ?  I  guessed  it'd 
come  ter  that  when  he  got  ter  flingin'  names  about. 
And  Tusker's  gone.  Wall,  there  ain't  nothin'  more  ter 
do  now  but  ter  git  well  and  started  in  again  at  the 
diggin'.  Guess  he's  took  all.  A  fine  pardner  he's  been, 


Tusker  Joe  19 

to  be  sure!  He's  seen  me  and  Tom  slavin'  every  day 
and  guess  he's  jest  chuckled.  He's  bided  his  time,  and 
got  clean  off  with  all  the  stuff.  Boys,  we'd  cleaned  up 
the  claim  only  yesterday,  and  thar  was  enough  to  take 
every  mother's  son  of  us  back  to  New  York,  with  some- 
thing in  hand  ter  start  up  business  with.  And  Tusker's 
got  it  all,  and  has  rubbed  poor  Tom  out." 

He  looked  round  at  the  miners,  and  each  in  turn 
nodded  his  agreement. 

"  Rubbed  him  clean  out,  yer  bet,"  said  one.  "  It  don't 
take  twice  lookin'  ter  tell  that.  Tom's  dead,  and  we'd 
a  notion  yer  was  the  same.  Yer  lay  that  still." 

"  And  yer  didn't  move  over  sprightly,"  came  from 
the  wounded  man  dryly.  "  I  saw  every  little  bit  of  the 
theatricals,  and  thar  wasn't  a  man  as  dared  ter  show 
fight,  small  blame  to  yer.  For  me,  he'd  got  the  drop 
before  I'd  a  hand  on  my  shooter,  and  jest  sent  his  lead 
through  my  arm.  I  wasn't  askin'  fer  more.  I  knew  a 
move  meant  death,  sure.  And  so  I  did  same  as  you. 
Lay  still  as  a  mouse,  with  the  paper  over  my  face,  and 
jest  a  small  tear  in  it  through  which  I  could  watch  what 
was  happening.  Mates,  I'll  tell  yer  somethin'.  I've 
been  diggin'  and  minin'  this  five  years.  I've  met  bad 
men  and  good,  rough  and  honest,  and  downright 
ruffians.  But  Tusker's  jest  a  murderer.  I  gives  him 
notice,  here  and  now,  that  I  shoot  on  sight  at  the  next 
meetin'.  If  only  for  Lord  Tom's  sake,  I  shoot  on  sight. 
Tusker's  a  thief  and  a  murderer." 

When  the  whole  matter  came  to  be  discussed,  it  was 
the  decision  of  the  inmates  of  the  camp  at  Salem  Falls 
that'  Tusker  Joe  was  indeed  a  thief  and  a  murderer.  It 
cropped  uo  in  the  evidence  offered  to  the  sheriff,  who 


20  Indian  and  Scout 

duly  made  an  enquiry,  that  this  man,  some  thirty  years 
of  age  only,  had  twice  before  entered  into  partnership 
with  other  miners,  and,  having  waited  till  the  claims 
panned  out  well,  and  earnings  were  collected,  disappeared 
with  all  that  he  could  lay  his  hands  on.  And  on  this 
occasion  it  was  his  intention  to  do  the  same.  But  Lord 
Tom,  a  man  of  a  different  stamp  to  the  miners,  had 
detected  his  intention,  and  in  an  unwary  moment  had 
taxed  him  with  the  crime,  and  had  not  hesitated  to  call 
him  a  thief.  Then  it  was  that  Tusker  had  deliberately 
shot  his  partner  down,  and  done  the  same  for  Jim.  It 
was  a  clear  case  of  murder.  A  warrant  was  issued  for 
the  arrest  of  the  man,  and  in  a  little  while  the  event  was 
forgotten.  But  Jim  did  not  forget,  while  in  course  of 
time  the  news  of  Lord  Tom's  death  filtered  through  to 
New  York  State,  where  his  widow  was  living.  Mary 
Kingsley  did  not  forget.  She  mourned  her  husband  for 
many  a  long  day,  and  then,  like  the  sensible  woman  she 
was,  set  herself  to  think  of  her  son.  And  that  son, 
Jack  Kingsley,  is  the  lad  who  is  the  hero  of  this 
story. 


CHAPTER   II 

Jack  Kingsley's  Dilemma 

MARY  KINGSLEY  may  be  described  as  an  eminently 
unfortunate  woman.  Married  at  an  early  age,  it  was 
not  long  before  her  husband  fell  out  of  employment,  and 
found  himself  hard  put  to  it  to  make  a  living.  That 
was  in  or  about  the  year  1848;  and  presently,  when  a 
fever  for  gold  digging  in  California  spread  over  the 
United  States  of  America,  Tom  Kingsley  became  badly 
bitten  with  the  desire  to  try  his  own  fortune.  A  town- 
bred  man,  he  fared  but  ill  at  first;  but  in  a  little  while 
his  fortunes  mended,  so  that  he  was  able  to  send  money 
to  his  wife.  Then  had  come  a  partnership,  bringing 
great  profit  at  first,  and  later  on  the  disaster  with  which 
the  reader  is  acquainted. 

Five  years  after  the  death  of  Tom  Kingsley,  Mary 
married  again — a  man  of  uncertain  temper,  who  quickly 
began  to  look  upon  his  stepson  Jack  as  an  encumbrance. 
There  were  quarrels  between  himself  and  his  wife  with 
regard  to  the  boy,  and  very  soon  Jack  himself  came  in 
for  ill-feeling  and  frequent  chastisement. 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall  put  up  with  it  much  longer, 
Mother,"  said  Jack  one  day  when  there  had  been  an 
unusually  stormy  scene.  "  I  learned  last  year  that  when 
I  was  away  from  home,  on  a  visit  up  the  Hudson,  you 


22  Indian  and  Scout 

and  Father  got  on  well  together;  but  immediately  I 
returned  there  were  quarrels,  of  which  I  was  the  cause. 
I  think  he's  jealous  of  your  care  for  me." 

"  It  seems  so,"  admitted  Mary  with  tears  in  her  eyes. 
"  I've  noticed  the  same,  Jack.  Phineas  is  a  good  and 
kind  husband  when  things  do  not  disturb  him,  but  when 
he's  upset,  matters  are — well,  unpleasant  for  all.  If  he 
had  had  a  son  of  his  own  perhaps  things  would  have 
been  different;  but  he  hasn't,  and  so  one  has  to  look 
facts  in  the  face.  You  know,  boy,  that  your  mother 
would  not  have  you  leave.  But " 

"Just  so,  Mother,"  interrupted  Jack.  "There  is 
always  a  but  in  these  affairs.  I've  talked  it  over  with 
Uncle  up  the  Hudson,  and  he  thinks  I  should  cut  from 
home  and  strike  out  for  myself.  I'm  old  enough.  I'm 
seventeen  and  a  half." 

"And  big  enough,  bless  you!"  cried  Mary.  "Ah,  if 
only  the  question  had  never  arisen !  But  I'm  not  a  fool 
anyway,  Jack,  and  I'm  looking  facts  in  the  face.  I  see 
clearly  that  it  would  be  better  for  you,  better  for  me, 
and  happier  altogether.  Though  I  shall  miss  you,  boy. 
How  I  shall  you  do  not  know.  What'll  you  do?" 

Jack  thought  for  a  moment;  and  while  he  stands  there, 
his  hands  sunk  deep  in  his  pockets,  let  us  take  a  good 
look  at  him.  Jack  Kingsley  was  of  that  peculiarly  fair 
complexion  which  is  generally,  and  too  often  wrongly, 
associated  with  a  hasty  and  hot  temper.  His  hair  was 
distinctly  red,  not  the  lank  red  hair  one  often  meets 
with,  but  crisp  red  curls  that  clung  closely  to  his  head. 
Indeed  the  colour  suited  his  general  complexion  re- 
markably well,  and  Jack  was  by  no  means  a  bad-look- 
ing fellow.  For  the  rest,  he  was  a  typical  American; 


Jack  Kingsley's  Dilemma         23 

well  grown  for  his  age,  in  fact  quite  tall,  though  a  little 
lanky,  for  he  was  too  young  to  have  filled  out  yet.  Still 
Jack  was  well  covered  with  muscle,  light  and  active  on 
his  feet,  with  his  head  well  set  back  on  a  pair  of  stout 
shoulders.  There  was  a  deep  white  scar  on  his  cheek, 
which  seemed  to  set  off  the  good  lines  of  his  face  as 
a  patch  sets  off  that  of  a  lady.  That  scar  was  the  re- 
sult of  a  determined  struggle  with  an  old  school  enemy, 
whom  Jack  had  fought  three  times  in  succession,  suffer- 
ing defeat  on  the  first  two  occasions.  Eyes  which 
looked  at  you  frankly  and  steadily,  a  firm  chin  and 
expressive  lips,  hiding  a  set  of  excellent  teeth,  made  up 
an  appearance  which  was  as  decidedly  attractive  and 
confidence  -  inspiring  as  Tusker  Joe's  had  been  the  op- 
posite. 

"Yes,  I'm  old  enough  and  big  enough,"  said  Jack, 
with  that  easy  assurance  so  common  to  young  Ameri- 
cans. "  And  I  ain't  afraid  of  work." 

"  A  good  thing  too,"  echoed  his  mother.  "  Because 
you  will  have  to  look  to  yourself.  Your  father  hasn't 
enough  to  be  making  you  allowances,  and  you've 
nothing  else  to  look  to.  I'm  not  sorry  either.  A 
young  man  should  look  at  the  world  for  himself.  The 
fact  that  he  has  to  make  his  way  should  give  him 
greater  determination.  If  Tom  had  lived  it  might  have 
been  different.  But  that  rogue  who  murdered  him  stole 
all  he  possessed,  including  his  papers.  But  there — 
I'll  not  bother  you  with  the  tale.  What  will  you 
do?" 

"  I've  talked  it  over  twenty  times,  Mother,  and  Uncle 
has  advised  me  to  go  west,  down  to  the  camps." 

"  To    dig !      Gold     prospecting ! "    exclaimed     Mary 


24  Indian  and  Scout 

Kingsley  with  horror  in  her  voice;  for  she  thought  of 
her  first  husband. 

"  Perhaps.  But  only  if  other  things  fail.  I'm  told 
that  a  smith  is  always  wanted  down  there.  There  are 
spades  and  picks  to  mend,  ironwork  to  prepare,  and,  in 
fact,  lots  of  jobs  for  a  handy  man." 

"  But  you  don't " 

Mary  threw  her  hands  up  in  consternation.  She  knew 
that  Jack  had  but  recently  left  school,  and  had  as  yet  no 
knowledge  of  any  trade.  He  had  done  a  great  deal  of 
amateur  joinery  at  home;  but  then  that  was  not  smith's 
work. 

"  I've  tried  it,"  said  Jack  sturdily.  "  Uncle  sent  me 
to  the  forge  near  his  house,  and  last  holidays  I  did  a 
month  on  end.  I  can  use  a  hammer  now,  and  in  a  few 
months  shall  be  able  to  do  ordinary  jobs,  as  well  as 
shoeing  horses.  The  older  I  get  the  stronger  I  shall 
become,  no  doubt;  and  strength  is  what  is  wanted,  once 
one  has  the  training  and  knowledge." 

"  But  for  the  moment  you  are  useless  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,"  exclaimed  Mary. 

"  I  can  earn  my  bread  and  butter  and  a  trifle  for 
spending  in  leisure  times,"  said  George.  "  I  stopped  at 
Hopeville  as  I  came  through  from  up  the  Hudson,  and 
James  Orring,  the  smith,  will  take  me  at  a  dollar  a  week, 
with  board  and  lodging  thrown  in.  If  you're  willing 
I'll  go  at  once." 

It  may  be  imagined  that  Mary  was  thrown  into  a 
condition  of  unhappiness  at  her  son's  news.  True,  she 
had  begun  to  realize  more  and  more  that  the  best  thing 
for  the  boy  was  to  leave  home  and  strike  out  a  career 
for  himself.  But  she  had  put  the  evil  day  as  far  from 


Jack  Kingsley's  Dilemma         25 

her  as  possible,  satisfied  in  her  unselfishness  to  put  up 
with  her  husband's  tempers  if  her  son  could  be  near  her. 
And  now  to  hear  that  he  was  prepared  to  go  at  once, 
that  the  day  was  actually  at  hand  for  him  to  cut  adrift 
from  the  nest  which  had  held  him  all  these  years,  was 
a  bitter  blow.  She  shed  tears,  and  then,  like  the  sensible 
woman  she  was,  encouraged  Jack  to  carry  out  his  deter- 
mination. 

She  busied  herself  for  the  next  two  days  with  his 
clothes,  and  then  bade  farewell  to  him  bravely.  So, 
in  due  course,  our  hero  reached  Hopeville,  and  took  up 
his  residence  with  James  Orring. 

"You'll  have  to  fetch  and  carry  besides  smithing," 
said  James,  a  blunt,  kind-hearted  fellow.  "  Labour's 
hard  to  get  hereabouts.  Mighty  hard,  I  tell  you,  and  a 
chap  who  wants  wages  has  to  earn  them.  But  I'll  not 
be  stingy.  Show  us  that  you're  a  willing  fellow,  and 
the  money'll  be  good  and  plenty." 

For  a  month  Jack  laboured  steadily  in  the  forge,  his 
sleeves  rolled  to  the  elbow,  and  his  leathern  apron  round 
his  waist.  And,  little  by  little,  James  allowed  him  to 
undertake  work  at  the  anvil. 

"  He's  shapin'  well,"  he  told  his  wife,  "  and  since  that's 
the  case  I'm  giving  him  jobs.  It'll  help  to  make  him 
know  his  powers,  besides  giving  a  body  time  for  a 
smoke  in  his  own  parlour.  He  ain't  no  trouble,  that 
lad." 

Three  months  later  Jack  had  become  so  good  at  the 
work  that  James  was  able  to  enjoy  even  more  leisure. 
He  began  to  take  a  holiday  every  now  and  again,  and 
left  the  little  township  with  his  wife  in  order  to  visit 
friends.  He  felt  he  was  justified  in  doing  so,  for  his 


26  Indian  and  Scout 

apprentice  was  wonderfully  steady,  and  easily  earned 
the  four  dollars  a  week  he  was  now  receiving. 

"  We're  off  for  the  day  and  night,"  he  said  when  he 
came  to  the  forge  in  the  early  morning,  his  white  cuffs 
and  collar  showing  that  he  did  not  intend  to  work. 
"  You  can  manage  any  ordinary  job  that  comes  in. 
But  if  it's  something  big,  and  you  don't  fancy  tackling 
it,  why,  it'll  wait  till  to-morrow.  Me  and  the  missus  is 
off  to  see  her  sisters,  way  back  of  the  forest,  and  we'll 
be  here  again  by  noon  to-morrow." 

Jack  nodded,  and  stopped  hammering  for  a  moment. 
"  There  are  plenty  of  small  jobs  to  keep  me  going  to- 
day," he  said.  "  I'll  look  to  things.  Go  and  enjoy  your- 
self." 

Some  two  hours  later  he  was  disturbed  at  his  work 
by  the  arrival  of  a  buggy.  It  was  driven  up  to  the  door 
of  the  forge,  and  a  man  whose  clothing  showed  that  he 
came  from  a  town  descended  briskly. 

"  Mornin',"  he  said.     "  Busy?" 

"  Moderate,"  answered  Jack,  for  he  was  not  anxious  to 
lose  a  job. 

"  Got  time  ter  do  a  little  bit  for  me?" 

"  Depends  what  it  is,"  said  Jack.  "  If  it  ain't  big, 
reckon  I'll  tackle  it.  But  not  now.  I've  a  heap  to  get 
on  with." 

"  Special  money  fer  special  work,"  exclaimed  the 
stranger.  "  See  here,  I've  broke  the  key  of  my  front 
door,  and  blest  if  I  know  how  I'm  ter  git  in  again.  I 
could  break  a  window,  fer  sure,  but  then  that's  more 
expensive  than  getting  another  key.  The  puzzle  is  that 
the  business  end  is  broken  off  in  the  lock,  and  I  ain't 
got  it." 


Jack  Kingsley's  Dilemma         27 

He  held  up  the  shank  of  a  big  key,  one  which  might 
have  belonged  to  the  lock  of  a  large  front  door,  and 
handed  it  to  Jack.  The  stem  was  broken  and  twisted 
halfway  up,  and  the  most  important  item  was  missing. 
Jack  shook  his  head. 

"  I  could  forge  an  end  to  it  easy,"  he  said.  "  But  then, 
what'd  be  the  use?  It  wouldn't  open  the  lock  unless 
you  knew  all  about  the  wards.  It  would  be  waste  of 
money." 

"  So  it  would,  so  it  would,  siree,"  agreed  the  stranger, 
a  man  of  some  thirty-five  years  of  age,  to  whom,  some- 
how or  other,  Jack  took  an  instant  dislike.  "  But  I  ain't 
sich  a  fool  as  I  look.  I  can  give  yer  a  plan." 

"  Exact?"  asked  Jack. 

"To  a  T;  a  wax  impression.  Thar's  care  for  you! 
I'm  fond  of  a  bit  of  modelling  in  wax,  and  sometimes 
try  my  hand  at  amateur  sculpture.  Guess  it  was  one 
of  the  first  things  I  did  ter  take  a  wax  impression  of 
that  'ere  key.  And  it's  comin'  in  useful.  I'd  forgot  it 
almost,  and  then  remembered  it  was  in  the  drawer." 

He  stopped  suddenly  and  looked  keenly  at  Jack ;  for 
this  individual  had  overstepped  himself.  If  he  had 
broken  the  key  of  his  own  front  door,  and  so  locked 
himself  out,  how  had  he  been  able  to  get  the  impression 
from  the  drawer?  Jack  was  no  duffer,  to  be  sure,  but 
he  had  at  the  same  time  no  cause  for  suspecting  anyone 
who  came  to  offer  work.  Moreover,  he  was  pondering 
with  all  his  youthful  keenness  how  to  set  about  the  task. 

"  It's  a  longish  job,"  he  said,  scratching  his  head. 

"  How  much?"  demanded  the  man  quickly. 

"  I  don't  know  for  sure.  Depends  on  how  long  it 
takes.  Besides,  I've  other  work,  which  can't  be  left." 


28  Indian  and  Scout 

"Ten  dollars  if  it's  ready  in  two  hours,"  came  from 
the  stranger,  making  Jack  open  his  eyes. 

"Right!"  he  said  promptly.  "I'll  do  it.  Leave  the 
shank  and  the  impression.  I'll  get  at  the  job  at  once." 

As  a  matter  of  fact  it  took  our  hero  rather  less  than 
two  hours  to  complete  the  task,  for  he  was  a  quick  work- 
man, and  this  was  a  straightforward  matter.  In  a  very 
little  while  he  had  welded  a  piece  of  iron  on  to  the 
broken  shank,  and  had  shaped  it  roughly  to  form  the 
wards  of  the  key.  Then  he  placed  it  in  the  vice,  and 
used  a  hack  saw  and  file  till  all  was  completed. 

"  And  I  wonder  why  he's  in  such  a  hurry,  and  ready 
to  pay  such  a  figure  for  it,"  he  wondered,  as  he  put  the 
finishing  strokes.  "Ten  dollars  would  pay  for  more 
than  window  and  key,  and — jimminy!" 

He  gave  vent  to  a  shrill  whistle,  and  stood  looking 
out  of  the  smoke-grimed  window,  his  hand  supported 
on  a  file.  He  was  thinking  of  the  stranger,  and  for  the 
first  time  felt  suspicious.  What  his  suspicions  were  he 
could  not  say  for  the  life  of  him.  They  were  entirely 
intangible.  But  why  did  the  man  need  that  key?  Was 
it  actually  for  his  front  door,  and,  if  so,  how  did  he  ob- 
tain the  wax  impression?  Jack  picked  up  the  piece  of 
wax  and  examined  it. 

"  Certainly  not  old,"  he  said  emphatically.  This  was 
moulded  perhaps  yesterday,  or  the  day  before.  I  wonder 
if " 

"Got  it  ready,  youngster?"  came  a  voice  from  the 
door,  and  looking  there  Jack  saw  the  stranger.  He  had 
not  come  in  his  buggy  on  this  occasion,  but  afoot;  and 
as  he  spoke  was  gingerly  stepping  round  the  puddle  and 
soft  mud  which  existed  near  the  door. 


Jack  Kingsley's  Dilemma         29 

"Ready,  sure,"  exclaimed  Jack,  reddening.  "And  I 
hope  it'll  do.  You  said  it  was  for  the  front  door?" 

"Yes.  Ye're  right  in  one  guess.  It's  the  front  door. 
That's  a  good  job,  lad.  Let's  see  if  it'll  stand  the  pres- 
sure." 

Placing  the  wards  in  the  vice,  the  stranger  tested  the 
strength  of  the  key  by  twisting  with  all  his  might. 

"  A  strong  job  too,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Here's  the  ten 
dollars.  Four  in  notes,  and  the  rest  cash.  Good  day!" 

He  was  gone  almost  before  Jack  had  finished  counting 
the  money,  and,  having  stepped  again  gingerly  across 
the  mud,  disappeared  along  the  road  which  led  through 
the  town.  He  left  our  hero  staring  after  him,  and  un- 
consciously examining  the  wax  impression  which  he  still 
held  in  his  hand. 

"  It's  queer,"  he  said.  "  Wish  James  was  back  home 
to  discuss  the  matter.  Now,  if  I  was  older,  or  had  more 
experience,  I  suppose  I  should  get  to  thinking  that  that 
fellow  wanted  the  key  for  some  other  purpose.  That  it 
was  not  his  own  front  door  he  wished  to  open  with  it. 
He  told  me  a  fib,  I'm  sure.  He  made  a  mistake  when 
he  talked  about  the  impression  being  in  his  drawer. 
Well,  there's  the  money,  and  James  will  be  glad." 

At  six  o'clock  our  hero  shut  the  forge,  took  his  tea 
in  the  house  closely  adjacent,  and,  having  washed  him- 
self and  put  on  a  suit  of  respectable  clothes,  he  went 
down  into  the  town  and  out  to  the  other  side.  He  was 
fond  of  a  sharp  walk  after  being  cooped  up  in  the  forge 
all  day  long,  and  often  went  off  into  the  country.  It 
was  dark  when  he  had  covered  six  miles,  and  by  then 
he  was  almost  in  the  wilderness.  The  road  had  almost 
ceased  to  exist,  while  there  was  forest  land  on  every 


30  Indian  and  Scout 

side.  On  the  left,  however,  as  he  faced  home  again,  the 
country  was  divided  by  the  Hudson  River,  beside  which 
the  road  wound,  but  elevated  from  its  surface.  Indeed, 
it  stood  three  hundred  feet  above  the  water. 

"  A  fine  place  for  a  house,"  thought  our  hero,  as  his 
eyes  were  attracted  by  lights  ahead  and  to  the  left. 
''The  man  who  selected  that  site  had  an  eye  to 
beauty.  They  say  he  started  without  a  dollar,  and 
made  all  he  has  by  hard  work.  I  wonder  if  I  shall 
ever  be  able  to  do  anything  like  that.  It  doesn't  seem 
possible,  and  yet  I  dare  say  he  thought  the  same.  It 
would  be  grand  to  have  a  big  house  overlooking  the 
Hudson,  and  give  mother  a  home  there." 

Jack  was  not  above  the  building  of  castles  in  the  air, 
and  as  he  trudged  along,  his  busy  brain  conjured  up  a 
future  for  himself,  a  future  in  which  hard  work  and  care 
would  bring  him  riches  and  a  rise  in  the  world.  For 
America  was  the  home  of  numbers  and  numbers  of 
men  who  had  made  wealth  from  nothing,  aided  by  a 
strong  arm,  a  firm  purpose,  and  continuous  application. 
Why  should  he,  Jack  Kingsley,  not  be  able  to  follow  in 
their  footsteps?  What  if  he  were  to  own  a  big  forge 
one  of  these  days,  and,  leaving  it  to  a  manager,  opened 
others  elsewhere.  That  would  be  doing  business.  That 
would  be  rising  in  the  world,  and,  if  the  thing  were 
managed  properly,  money  would  be  gained  and  would 
accumulate. 

Jack  was  so  entirely  lost  in  the  brilliant  scenes  he  was 
conjuring  up  that  he  was  barely  conscious  of  his  sur- 
roundings. He  had  strayed  from  the  road  now,  and 
was  traversing  a  strip  of  moorland  which  ran  between 
it  and  the  river.  Then  of  a  sudden  something  attracted 


Jack  Kingsley's  Dilemma         31 

his  attention.  It  was  a  dusky  outline  right  ahead,  which 
presently  took  on  the  shape  of  a  buggy.  Jack  halted 
when  he  was  within  ten  paces  of  the  cart  and  listened. 
He  was  no  sneak  at  any  time,  but  a  familiar  note  caught 
his  ear.  Someone  was  speaking,  and,  since  he  could 
not  settle  the  doubt  in  his  mind  at  that  distance,  he 
stepped  even  closer,  making  not  a  sound  as  his  feet 
trod  the  soft  green  carpet  beneath  them. 

"  Jest  ten  o'clock,"  he  heard  the  voice  say,  while  some- 
one on  the  far  side  of  the  buggy  struck  a  match,  shielded 
it  with  his  hand,  and  evidently  examined  his  watch  with 
the  aid  of  the  flame. 

"  Jest  ten,  and  Jem  Bowen's  away  down  in  New  York 
city.  That's  good." 

"  Fer  us.  Guess  it  ain't  fer  him,"  responded  someone 
else.  "  'Cos,  seeing  as  he  ain't  here,  and  don't  have  need 
fer  certain  things,  we'll  make  free  with  'em.  Did  yer 
get  the  key?" 

"Yer  bet,"  and  Jack  instantly  recognized  that  this 
was  undoubtedly  the  voice  of  the  man  who  had  accosted 
him  at  the  forge.  "  I  ain't  lived  a  while  fer  nothing. 
I've  been  down  here  for  two  weeks  past  lordin'  it  in 
Hopeville,  and  getting  ter  know  the  ropes.  Thar's  a 
young  chap  down  at  James  Orring's  forge  as  is  a  good 
workman,  and  soft." 

Jack  flushed  in  the  darkness  at  this  allusion  to  him- 
self, and  stood  undecided  how  to  act.  His  idea  of 
common  fairness  bade  him  decamp  at  once,  and  no 
doubt  he  would  have  done  so  had  not  the  words  he 
had  already  heard,  and  others  which  followed  imme- 
diately, persuaded  him  that  he  ought  to  stay. 

"Soft?"  queried  the  other  man  with  a  giggle  which 


32  Indian  and  Scout 

roused  Jack's  indignation.  "Perhaps  he's  made  a  mis- 
take." 

"  No  fear  of  that.  He's  more  simple  than  soft.  That's 
jest  what  I  meant.  He's  jest  mighty  keen  on  his  work, 
and  don't  give  a  thought  to  other  matters.  I  guessed 
he  was  the  man  fer  us,  so  I  cleared  old  man  James 
out  with  a  call  from  his  wife's  sisters.  Then  I  went 
down  ter  the  forge,  and  the  young  chap  asked  no  ques- 
tions. I  jest  stuffed  him  with  a  yarn,  and  he  swallowed 
it.  At  any  rate,  thar's  the  key.  A  fine  job." 

"And  it's  like  the  impression?" 

An  oath  escaped  the  first  man.  He  remembered  now 
for  the  first  time  that  he  had  left  the  wax  model  behind 
him. 

"Tain't  no  matter  after  all,"  he  said  after  a  while. 
"  The  model  ain't  no  use  to  him,  and  ten  to  one  he's 
tossed  it  into  the  fire.  At  any  rate  I  compared  the 
thing  he  made  with  the  model,  and  I  guess  it  was  exact. 
Thar  ain't  a  doubt  but  what  it'll  fit." 

"Then  thar's  no  use  in  waitin'.  The  lights  yonder 
has  been  out  fer  the  last  three  hours,  save  in  the  ser- 
vants' quarters,  and  we  know  the  old  man  who's  in 
charge  is  as  deaf  as  any  adder.  The  sooner  we  break 
the  place  the  better  chance  of  getting  clear.  How's 
that?" 

"Sense!  Nothing  more  and  nothing  less.  Let's  git 
right  now.  Thar  ain't  no  need  ter  exert  ourselves. 
We'll  drive  pretty  close,  and  walk  right  in." 

The  two  figures  appeared  from  the  far  side  of  the 
buggy,  while  Jack  slid  to  the  ground  and  crouched 
behind  a  bush.  He  caught  the  whiff  of  someone's 
pipe,  and  saw  the  red  end  of  the  barrel.  Then  the. 


Jack  Kingsley's  Dilemma         33 

men  sprang  to  their  places,  the  whip  cracked,  and  in  a 
moment  the  buggy  was  moving  away. 

"Ought  he  to  follow?  Should  he  cling  to  the  back 
of  the  buggy  and  give  the  alarm  when  they  reached  the 
house?  Should  he  leave  the  matter?  It  was  no  affair 
of  his." 

The  questions  raced  through  Jack's  mind,  and  for  a 
few  seconds  he  was  undecided.  Care  for  his  own  safety 
prompted  him  to  pursue  the  easier  course,  to  let  matters 
drift,  and  not  interfere  himself.  Then  his  duty — the 
common  duty  we  owe  one  another — pulled  him  in  the 
other  direction.  He  would  go  and  give  the  alarm.  But 
those  few  seconds  of  indecision  had  altered  the  com- 
plexion of  affairs.  The  buggy  was  already  some  yards 
away,  and,  though  Jack  ran,  it  rapidly  increased  its  dis- 
tance from  him.  Then  the  house  to  be  burgled  by  these 
rascals  was  a  good  mile  and  a  half  away,  and  before 
he  could  arrive  their  purpose  might  be  carried  out. 

"  Not  if  I  can  stop  them,"  said  Jack  stubbornly.  "  It's 
clearly  for  me  to  do  something.  I'll  put  a  spoke  in  their 
wheel." 

He  took  to  his  heels  at  once  and  cut  straight  across 
towards  the  house,  at  that  moment  hidden  from  him  by 
a  rise  in  the  land.  However,  he  soon  sighted  the  light 
which  had  been  referred  to,  and  within  a  little  while  was 
at  the  gates  which  shut  in  the  surroundings  of  the  park 
attached  to  the  mansion.  They  were  open,  and  the 
buggy  stood  just  within,  the  reins  being  secured  to  the 
ironwork.  Jack  stepped  boldly  through  into  the  park, 
and  ran  along  on  the  grass  border.  In  a  little  while 
he  reached  the  drive,  and,  skirting  that  —  for  to  have 
stepped  into  it  would  have  been  to  make  a  noise — 

(C179)  3 


34  Indian  and  Scout 

he  presently  came  to  the  large  front  door.  It  was 
open. 

"  And  the  thieves  have  gone  in.  I'll  follow,  and  then 
kick  up  a  rumpus,"  he  said.  "  They  shall  not  get  away 
with  any  booty  if  I  can  avoid  it," 

He  stepped  across  the  threshold,  and  was  within  the 
mansion  immediately.  Listening  for  a  moment,  he 
heard  sounds  in  the  distance,  and  set  off  in  that  direc- 
tion. 

"  Better  catch  them  red-handed  than  not,"  he  thought. 
"  Guess  this'll  be  a  surprise  for  'em." 


CHAPTER   III 

A  Rude  Awakening 

"  GUESS  this'll  be  a  surprise  for  'em." 

His  heart  throbbing  a  little  faster  than  it  was  wont 
to  do,  and  his  pulses  beating  tumultuously,  Jack  crept 
along  a  passage,  and  presently  came  to  a  large  door 
which  stood  ajar.  There  was  someone  within  the  room 
without  a  doubt;  for  he  heard  whispering  voices,  while, 
though  the  place  was  not  lighted,  every  now  and  again 
a  ray  swept  past  the  door,  and  penetrated  through  the 
chink  beneath  it,  as  if  one  of  the  burglars  had  a  lamp 
and  were  flashing  it  to  and  fro.  Then  he  heard  the 
chink  of  metal. 

"  Silver!"  he  heard  someone  exclaim. 

"H — h — ush!  You'll  wake  the  house,  booby!  Silver 
it  is,  and  plenty  of  it.  Easier  ter  take  Jem  Bowen's  glint 
than  dig  for  gold  in  Californy.  Put  'em  in  the  sack. 
Never  mind  bending  the  things.  They'll  all  come  out 
the  same  in  the  melting-pot.  Here,  leave  the  job  ter 
me  and  get  to  the  other  cabinet." 

The  dulled  sound  of  footsteps  came  to  Jack's  ear, 
and  every  now  and  again  a  metallic  sound,  as  the  silver 
articles  were  dropped  into  the  sack.  As  for  himself, 
be  had  made  no  sound  as  he  came  along  the  passage, 
for  it  was  luxuriously  carpeted.  He  stood  at  the  door, 

35 


36  Indian  and  Scout 

hesitating  again,  eager  to  enter  and  face  the  men,  and 
yet  doubting  whether  the  right  moment  had  yet  arrived. 
And  our  hero  was  to  discover  again  to  his  cost  that 
indecision  does  not  always  pay.  In  fact,  that  the  man 
who  can  make  up  his  mind  on  the  spur  of  the  moment, 
in  a  flash  as  it  were,  and  act  upon  it  inflexibly,  without 
doubts,  without  a  second's  delay,  is  the  man  who  more 
often  succeeds  in  this  life  than  he  who  is  dilatory.  But 
expedition  in  such  matters  is  not  to  be  expected  from  a 
lad  of  Jack's  age.  It  was  only  natural  that  he  should 
hesitate.  After  all,  he  was  suddenly  face  to  face  with 
a  dilemma  which  might  well  have  tried  the  discretion 
and  courage  and  steadiness  of  an  elder  man.  He  hesi- 
tated. 

"  If  1  go  now  they  will  get  clean  away  with  that 
silver.  If  I  wait  till  they  are  fully  engaged,  and  then 
wake  someone  in  the  house,  then  they  may  well  be 
captured.  Guess  I'll  wait.  Helloo!" 

Another  dull  footfall  had  come  to  his  ears,  and  he 
swung  round  to  see  who  had  caused  it.  A  big  man 
was  stealing  up  to  him  along  the  corridor,  a  man 
dressed  in  nightshirt  and  trousers,  bearing  a  small 
lantern,  and  armed  with  a  club.  Jack  was  thoroughly 
startled,  and,  to  be  honest,  lost  his  head.  He  was 
between  two  fires,  and  was  likely  to  be  singed  by 
both. 

*  S-s-s-sh!"  he  whispered,  holding  up  his  finger.  "In 
there.  In  there." 

He  pointed  to  the  room  at  the  door  of  which  he 
stood,  and  again  held  up  his  finger  for  silence.  But 
the  man  who  was  creeping  down  that  passage  had  but 
one  idea  in  his  mind.  He  had  been  awakened  by  a 


A  Rude  Awakening  37 

sound,  and  from  his  position  in  one  wing  of  the  man- 
sion had  caught  the  flash  of  a  light  in  one  of  the  living 
rooms.  The  instant  he  saw  Jack  he  took  him  for  a 
burglar,  and,  now  that  he  was  within  striking  distance, 
he  disregarded  our  hero's  signs,  and,  suddenly  dashing 
in,  brought  his  club  down  with  a  furious  swish.  For- 
tunately for  Jack  it  missed  the  mark.  But  in  another 
moment  they  were  locked  in  one  another's  arms,  the 
newcomer  endeavouring  to  use  his  club,  while  Jack 
gripped  his  arm  with  all  his  might.  They  fell  to  the 
ground  during  the  struggle,  and  continued  the  contest 
there. 

"Leave  go!"  shouted  Jack  at  the  top  of  his  voice. 
"Can't  you  tell  I'm  on  the  same  errand  as  you  are. 
There  are  two  men  in  there.  Burglars!  I've  tracked 
them." 

Crash!  The  club,  seized  in  the  man's  other  hand, 
came  with  a  resounding  bang  against  his  head,  and  in 
a  second  our  hero  was  unconscious.  At  the  same 
moment  the  door  of  the  room  was  torn  open,  and  the 
lamp,  which  had  rolled  to  the  floor  of  the  passage,  but 
which  was  not  extinguished,  showed  the  two  whom 
Jack  had  followed. 

"Hands  up!"  shouted  the  fellow  who  had  so  unex- 
pectedly appeared  upon  the  scene,  and  who  had  made 
such  a  stupid  error  with  respect  to  our  hero.  "Yer 
won't!  Then  take  the  consequences!" 

He  was  a  sturdy  fighter,  this  caretaker  of  the  mansion 
and  in  one  brief  half-second  had  broken  the  arm  of  one 
of  the  men.  Then  he  attacked  the  second,  and  no  doubt 
would  have  done  him  a  like  injury  with  his  formidable 
weapon  had  not  the  fellow  drawn  back.  Something 


38  Indian  and  Scout 

bright  glinted  in  his  hand;  there  was  a  sharp  report, 
which  went  echoing  down  the  corridor,  and  instantly 
his  attacker  fell  to  the  ground. 

"Wall!  If  that  don't  beat  everything!  Dead,  is 
he?" 

The  one  with  the  broken  arm  bent  over,  supporting 
his  injured  limb  with  the  other,  and  looked  at  the 
man  who  had  been  shot. 

"As  mutton,"  he  said  curtly;  "and  serve  him  right. 
He's  broken  my  arm." 

"  Who's  the  other?  Seems  he  must  have  been  fol- 
lowing us,  and  this  old  fool  took  him  for  one  of  our 
gang.  Turn  him  over." 

Together  they  rolled  Jack  over  on  to  his  back  and 
inspected  his  face. 

"Gee!"  cried  the  leader,  the  one  who  had  come  to  the 
forge  that  morning;  "ef  it  ain't  the  youngster  who  made 
the  key  for  me.  And  I  thought  he  was  soft.  Phew! 
Wall,  he's  brought  it  on  hisself.  Get  the  sack,  mate, 
and  let's  be  moving.  We  know  the  old  man  was  alone 
in  the  house,  so  thar's  no  hurry.  But  it  won't  do  ter 
wait.  Someone  else  might  be  in  the  game.  Get  the 
sack,  and  we'll  drive." 

Without  a  thought  for  the  man  they  had  shot,  or  for 
poor  Jack,  they  decamped  from  the  mansion,  leaving 
the  two  victims  lying  on  the  floor.  Ten  minutes  later 
their  buggy  was  whirling  them  away,  so  that  no  trace 
was  left  of  them  when  the  morning  came.  And  it  was 
not  till  then  that  the  crime  was  discovered.  A  gardener 
found  the  door  open,  and,  being  unable  to  make  the 
caretaker  hear,  entered  the  mansion.  An  hour  later 
Hopeville's  solitary  policeman  was  there. 


A  Rude  Awakening  39 

"Hm!  A  burglary,"  he  said  knowingly;  "and  the 
old  man  came  in  at  the  right  moment.  Is  he  dead?" 

"  Left  for  dead,  but  still  breathing  ever  so  gently," 
answered  the  gardener.  "  I've  sent  for  the  doctor." 

"And  t'other  fellow?" 

"  Head  pretty  nigh  bashed  in.  Insensible,  and  likely 
to  remain  so  for  a  day,"  was  the  report.  "  Reckon 
Davy  caught  him  nicely.  What'll  you  do?" 

"  Note  the  surroundings  first.  Then,  when  the  doctor 
arrives,  get  'em  to  bed,  Reckon  the  thief  couldn't  be 
moved  yet  awhile." 

It  was  an  hour  before  surgical  aid  arrived,  and  very 
soon  afterwards  Jack  was  put  into  a  bed  in  one  of  the 
attics,  with  a  groom  to  watch  him,  and  make  sure  that 
he  did  not  escape.  As  for  Davy,  he  was  carried  to  a 
sofa,  the  movement  nearly  shaking  the  slender  thread 
of  life  still  remaining  out  of  his  body.  He  rallied 
slightly,  opened  his  eyes,  and  in  a  feeble  voice  gave 
an  account  of  the  burglary.  Then  he  closed  his  eyes, 
and  died  within  ten  minutes. 

"  Which  makes  the  case  worse  for  that  young  black- 
guard upstairs,"  said  the  man  of  law.  "  To  think  that 
James  Orring's  man  should  take  to  such  ways.  I've 
sent  along  for  him,  so  as  to  ask  a  few  questions.  Guess 
he'll  be  mighty  put  about.  It  was  only  yesterday  that 
he  passed  me  on  the  road,  and  got  to  talking  about 

young  Jack  Kingsley.  It'll  be  a  case  of "  He 

jerked  his  head  back,  and  indicated  a  hanging. 

"  Y-e-e-es,"  agreed  the  other  doubtfully,  "  ef  it's  proved. 
In  the  States  a  man  ain't  guilty,  and  don't  hang  in  con- 
sequence, till  he's  proved  to  have  done  murder." 

"Proved!      It's  a  clear  case,"  exclaimed  the  police- 


40  Indian  and  Scout 

man.  "Clear  as  daylight.  Here's  the  young  black- 
guard discovered  on  the  premises,  knocked  silly  by 
Davy's  club,  and  Davy  himself  dyin'.  Ef  that  ain't 
clear,  what  is?" 

His  familiarity  with  the  law,  the  necessity  for  showing 
greater  knowledge  than  the  gardener,  caused  the  police- 
man to  sniff  with  indignation.  To  his  legal  mind  Jack 
was  not  only  guilty  of  the  offence,  but  was  already  con- 
demned. Indeed,  looking  at  the  evidence  clearly,  things 
wore  a  black  aspect  for  him.  Now  that  Davy  was 
dead  there  was  no  one  to  give  evidence  but  himself, 
and  the  poor  fellow  who  had  so  recently  died  had 
definitely  stated  that  Jack  was  one  of  the  burglars, 
believing  that  to  be  the  case  himself. 

Let  the  reader  imagine  our  hero's  feelings  when  at 
length  he  regained  consciousness,  and  was  taken  to  the 
station-house. 

"Taken  for  one  of  the  burglars,  just  because  that 
poor,  stupid  fellow  made  the  mistake!  Surely  not," 
he  groaned.  "That  would  be  too  cruel!  I  can  prove 
that  I  was  not.  I  can  describe  what  happened — how 
I  met  them  on  the  heath  and  followed.  I  can  speak 
about  the  key,  and " 

He  broke  off  with  a  groan,  for  as  he  reviewed  the 
matter  he  realized  that  he  could  but  make  a  state- 
ment of  what  had  happened,  but  that  there  was  no 
one  to  bear  it  out.  After  all,  facts  were  glaringly 
against  him.  Indeed  he  realized  that  to  the  full  when 
he  was  brought  up  before  the  sheriff  and  judges. 

"  The  prisoner  states  that  he  was  at  work  in  the  forge 
when  a  man  entered  and  desired  to  have  a  key  made," 
counsel  for  the  prosecution  announced,  when  summing 


A  Rude  Awakening  41 

up  the  case.  "That  may  or  may  not  be  the  case, 
though  we  can  believe  that  it  happened,  for  there  were 
footmarks  in  the  mud  outside  the  smithy  which  cor- 
respond with  others  on  the  lawn  outside  the  mansion. 
But  we  maintain  that  those  marks  were  those  of  an 
accomplice.  The  prisoner  made  the  key  to  match  a 
wax  impression  supplied  by  this  accomplice,  and  care- 
lessly left  the  impression  in  the  smithy.  Now  let  us 
follow  the  prisoner's  movements.  He  shuts  the  smithy 
and  goes  off  in  the  evening,  as  he  has  done  many 
times  before.  But  let  us  bear  in  mind  an  important 
item  of  evidence.  On  ordinary  days  he  would  have 
to  be  back  by  nine  o'clock  at  the  latest.  But  on  this 
particular  evening  he  owns  that  he  walked  so  far  that 
a  return  at  that  hour  was  impossible.  With  that  we 
place  the  fact  that  James  Orring  and  his  wife  were 
lured  away  from  Hopeville  for  the  night.  Is  that  not 
very  suggestive  of  prisoner's  complicity  in  this  crime? 
He  lures  his  patron  away,  so  that  his  absence  shall 
not  be  detected.  And  why  should  he  walk  farther  on 
this  particular  occasion?  To  meet  the  buggy  with  his 
two  accomplices.  The  tracks  on  the  heather  are  clear 
enough  to  show  that  three  men  were  about  the  buggy. 
It  stands  to  reason  that  one  man  could  not  have  been 
spying,  for  he  would  certainly  have  been  detected. 

"And  now  we  come  to  the  mansion.  Davy  declares 
that  this  man  was  one  of  the  miscreants,  though  he  did 
not  say  who  fired  the  shot.  That  is  his  dying  deposi- 
tion. Is  it  probable  that  he  would  have  thrown  him- 
self upon  a  defenceless  youth?  Highly  improbable. 
Unbelievable.  Contrary  to  common  sense.  And  had 
he  done  so,  is  it  possible  that  he  could  still  have  per- 


42  Indian  and  Scout 

severed  in  his  error?  No,  a  thousand  times  no!  Davy, 
at  death's  door,  gave  us  his  honest  conviction." 

Terribly  black  was  the  evidence,  and  it  may  be 
imagined  with  what  a  sinking  heart  our  unfortunate 
hero  listened  to  it  all.  There  was  no  one  to  speak 
for  him,  save  honest  James  Orring,  who  sturdily  main- 
tained that  his  apprentice  was  innocent. 

"  Find  the  weapon  with  which  he  shot  the  man  Davy," 
he  asked  savagely,  "  and  then  talk  of  the  lad's  guilt  A 
steadier  boy  never  worked  in  a  forge.  Him  a  burglar! 
Not  much!  And  ef  he  was,  do  yer  think  I  shouldn't 
have  spotted  it,  with  him  under  my  eyes  day  and 
night?" 

Jack's  case  stirred  the  countryside,  and  filled  the 
columns  of  the  paper.  Discussion  as  to  his  guilt  or 
innocence  waxed  loud  and  furious,  and  was  responsible 
for  many  incidents.  People  took  up  the  cudgels  for 
him  in  the  saloons,  and  often  enough  that  led  to  angry 
words  and  to  broken  heads.  Even  the  jury  wavered. 
Looking  at  Jack  in  the  dock  they  were  bound  to  con- 
fess that  a  franker  face  never  before  was  seen.  The 
prisoner  faced  his  terrible  position  with  a  courage  and 
fortitude  which  were  commendable,  while  his  answers 
were  so  direct,  so  evidently  spontaneous  and  sincere, 
that  even  with  that  damning  evidence  before  them  the 
most  experienced  of  the  jury  felt  a  qualm,  hesitated 
a  little,  and  was  inclined  to  give  some  benefit  to  the 
prisoner. 

"  It'll  be  manslaughter,"  said  James  dolefully,  "  as  he 
discussed  the  matter  with  his  wife.  "  They'll  never  hang 
Jack,  even  though  the  evidence  is  so  black  against  him. 
He'll  be  given  ten  years,  ten  long  years,  in  prison." 


A  Rude  Awakening  43 

Mrs.  Orring  wept,  and  was  joined  by  Jack's  mother, 
who  had  come  to  stay  with  them  during  the  trial. 

"  Ten  long  years,"  she  moaned.  "  He'll  be  an  old  man 
by  then.  To  think  that  a  bonny  fellow  such  as  he  must 
be  shut  up  for  the  finest  years  of  his  life,  must  be  treated 
like  a  wild  beast.  Oh,  it  is  horrible!" 

"  He  shan't!  I  tell  yer  he  shan't!"  cried  James,  bang- 
ing his  fist  on  the  parlour  table  till  the  whole  floor  shook. 
"  Even  though  I  war  the  victim  of  a  hoax  that  cleared 
me  away  for  the  time  being,  I  ain't  never  had  ought  but 
a  friendly  feelin'  for  young  Jack,  and  I'm  dead  sartin 
that  he's  as  innocent  as  a  babe.  If  them  skunks  who 
were  in  it  had  the  pluck  of  sparrows,  they'd  come 
forward  and  declare  theirselves.  But  they  won't — trust 
'em!  And  they'll  see  this  young  chap  nigh  hanged  and 
put  in  prison,  while  they're  free  ter  burglar  other  places. 
Jack's  up  against  it  hot  and  strong,  and  I'm  his  friend. 
I  say  again,  he  shan't  go  to  prison." 

His  vehemence  was  remarkable,  and  stirred  his 
listeners. 

"Not  go  to  prison!  You  won't "  commenced 

Mrs.  Orring. 

"Silence,  woman!"  thundered  James,  his  brows  knit 
close  together,  his  eyes  staring  at  the  opposite  wall. 
"Ye've  heard  what  I've  had  to  say.  Then  silence! 
Not  another  word!  Don't  breathe  a  syllable  to  a  soul. 
Good  night!" 

The  usually  pleasant  and  easy-going  smith  got  up  and 
left  the  room  abruptly,  while  the  two  women  stared  at 
one  another,  half-laughing  and  half-weeping. 

"This  is  how  I  look  at  it,"  said  James,  when  he 
was  well  away  from  the  house.  "  I  can't  get  to  think 


44  Indian  and  Scout 

in  there  with  women  round  me,  but  here  a  man  can 
see  things  clearer.  Jack's  done.  If  he  ain't  hanged, 
he'll  be  put  away  fer  ten  solid  years.  And  how's  he 
ter  prove  his  innocence  when  he's  cooped  up  within 
four  walls?  He  can't,  and  thar's  no  one  else  to  do  it 
fer  him.  And  supposin'  he  goes  fer  the  ten  years,  he's 
branded  as  a  felon,  and  won't  have  the  spirit  or  the 
energy  ter  try  to  clear  himself  when  at  last  he  gets 
free.  I  don't,  as  a  rule,  get  advisin'  a  man  as  is  innocent 
ter  skip  before  his  trial's  finished.  It  makes  things  all 
the  blacker  agin  him.  But  here's  a  case  where  no  good 
can  come  with  waitin'.  He's  branded,  sure,  and  he'll 
stay  branded  if  he  goes  to  prison.  I'll  go  and  see  Pete." 

Pete  was  an  old  friend  of  James's,  and  because  of  help 
he  had  had  at  a  critical  time,  from  the  owner  of  the 
smithy,  he  always  had  an  indulgent  ear  for  James. 

"  Ef  yer  could  get  ter  chat  along  with  the  policeman, 
maybe  I'd  be  able  ter  take  a  look  at  Jack,"  said  James, 
accosting  his  friend,  and  passing  him  a  wink.  "  Not  yet 
awhile,  though,  'cos  I'm  busy.  But  after  tea.  Jest  about 
sevin  o'clock." 

Pete  looked  up  quickly,  and  a  sharp  glance  shot  from 
his  eyes.  He  was  a  man  of  sixty-five,  perhaps,  though 
he  looked  older,  and  was  already  as  white  as  snow  as 
to  his  hair  and  beard.  But  he  was  no  fool,  was  Pete, 
and  his  glance  showed  that  he  half-understood  James. 

"You  aer  thinkin'  that  boy's  innocent?"  he  asked,  as 
he  sucked  at  his  pipe. 

"Dead  sartin,"  replied  James.  "Sit  down  arid  have 
a  smoke.  Try  mine." 

He  handed  out  his  tobacco  skin,  and  Pete  filled  from 
it  gratefully. 


A  Rude  Awakening  45 

"Up!"  he  remarked,  as  he  pulled  at  the  pipe;  "and 
you  was  thinkin'  maybe  that  Jack " 

"Yer  know  what  I  was  thinkin',  Pete,"  exclaimed 
James  bluntly.  "Look  ye  here.  Have  yer  ever  been 
dead  down  on  yer  luck,  right  clean  hard  up  agin 
it?" 

Pete  nodded,  his  ferrety  little  eyes  watching  the  smoke 
curl  up  from  the  bowl,  and  his  whole  expression  denoting 
satisfaction. 

"  I've  been  dead  down  on  the  rocks,  with  the  pinnacles 
comin'  clear  through,"  he  admitted,  as  if  the  recollection 
caused  him  enjoyment.  "  I've  had  fortune  play  me 
so  scurvily  that  I  couldn't  see  a  crust  anywheres,  and 
hadn't  but  one  friend  ter  turn  to.  Yes,  James,  I've 
knowd  what  it  is  ter  be  clean  up  agin  it." 

'•  And  yer  didn't  want  help?" 

"Ye've  struck  it  wrong.  Every  man  wants  help 
some  day.  It  may  be  only  when  he's  old  and  tottery, 

like  me "  he  stopped  to  smile,  and  watch  the  smoke 

again — "jest  like  me,"  he  repeated.  "Sometimes  he 
don't  want  it  even  then.  But  there's  others  want  it, 
soon  and  plenty,  when  they're  just  cuttin'  their  teeth. 
Guess  Jack's  one  of  'em." 

"And  he's  jest  got  one  friend,"  said  James  slowly. 
"That's  me." 

"  Then  you've  struck  it  wrong  agin.  Jack's  got  two. 
Jack's  friend  is  my  friend.  I  don't  forget  the  time  when 
I  was  up  agin  it." 

The  shrewd,  sharp  look  came  again  from  the  old  man, 
and  James  noted  it.  Taking  his  courage  in  both  hands 
he  blurted  out  his  news. 

"  I'm  goin'  to  fetch  him  out  of  that  ere  jug  of  a  prison," 


46  Indian  and  Scout 

he  said  curtly.  "Help  me  with  the  policeman,  and — 
and " 

"Why,  bless  us!  what  am  I  doin1,"  cried  Pete,  sud- 
denly taking  his  pipe  from  his  mouth.  "  It's  five  o'clock 
now,  and  I  must  be  goin'.  I've  got  a  'pointment  with 
the  constable  at  sivin,  jest  to  do  a  bit  of  talkin'.  So 
long,  James." 

"  And  bless  you,"  thought  the  owner  of  the  smithy,  as 
Pete  departed.  "  Now  ef  I  don't  fix  it,  my  name  ain't 
James  Orring.  First  thing's  an  aliby." 

He  stood  thinking  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
hastened  back  home.  Tea  was  ready,  and  after  that, 
and  a  smoke,  it  wanted  only  a  quarter  to  seven. 

"  Missus,"  said  James  suddenly,  "  I'm  agoin'  to  bed. 
I've  a  headache.  Jest  come  in  and  put  the  light  out, 
will  yer." 

Mrs.  Orring  was  not  gifted  with  a  brilliant  wit,  and 
stood  for  a  while  regarding  her  husband  with  question- 
ing eyes.  For  James  certainly  did  not  look  to  have 
a  headache.  If  ever  a  man  looked  in  robust  and  ab- 
solute health  it  was  he.  But  Jack's  mother  saved  the 
situation. 

"  I  think  I  should  go  and  do  as  he  says  in  a  few 
moments,  dear,"  she  whispered.  "You  see,  to-morrow 
you  will  be  able  to  tell  the  people  that  James  went 
to  bed,  and  that  you  left  him  there,  sick  with  a  head- 
ache." 

It  dawned  upon  Mrs.  Orring  that  this  manoeuvre  of 
her  husband's  might  have  something  to  do  with  Jack, 
and  promptly  she  carried  out  his  wishes. 

"And  jest  sit  right  there  in  the  front  parlour,"  said 
James,  as  the  light  was  put  out.  "  Then  I  shan't  be  dis- 


A  Rude  Awakening  47 

turbed  with  the  talking.  Yer  can  come  in  and  see  how 
my  head's  doin'  when  I  call.  Not  before,  'cos  I  shall 
likely  be  sleepin'." 

He  yawned,  turned  over,  and  drew  the  clothes  well 
across  him,  as  if  disposing  himself  for  sleep.  But  within 
a  minute  of  Mrs.  Orring's  departure,  James  was  out 
of  bed.  To  open  the  window  and  leap  out  was  the 
work  of  a  moment.  Then  he  went  straight  to  the 
smithy,  procured  a  file  and  a  hammer,  and,  covering 
his  face  with  a  scarf,  set  ofF  towards  the  prison,  choosing 
a  path  at  the  back  of  the  houses. 

"  Better  see  as  Pete's  got  the  constable  in  tow,"  he  said 
to  himself  as  he  went.  "  Now's  the  time  to  work  a 
liberation,  'cos  this  jail  ain't  by  noways  strong.  But 
after  the  trial's  over,  and  the  verdict's  given,  guess  Jack'll 
be  taken  to  a  place  as  strong  as  could  be  wanted.  Now 
what  in  thunder  aer  we  ter  do  with  him  when  he's  out." 

The  difficulty  almost  floored  James,  and  for  a  time 
he  sat  pondering. 

"Got  it!"  he  cried  at  last.  "Thar's  bound  ter  be  a 
hue  and  cry,  and  a  dickens  of  a  fuss ;  and  the  country- 
side'll  be  searched  high  and  low.  Guess  I'll  help  ter 
put  'em  off  the  tracks." 

Some  ten  minutes  later  he  was  close  to  the  prison, 
and  had  safely  hidden  himself  in  the  angle  of  a  house 
from  which  he  could  watch  the  street.  Hopeville  boasted 
of  a  town  hall  and  a  jail,  both  perched  at  the  edge  of  a 
square,  which,  now  that  the  township  was  a  dozen  years 
old,  had  become  the  fashionable  promenade  of  the  in- 
habitants. It  was  lighted  by  some  half-dozen  swaying 
oil  lamps,  and  was  provided  with  a  few  benches.  On 
one  of  these,  some  distance  from  the  tiny  prison,  Pete 


48  Indian  and  Scout 

was  seated  as  James  looked,  smoking  quietly,  and  en- 
gaged in  earnest  conversation  with  the  only  constable 
that  Hopeville  possessed.  And  if  that  conversation 
could  have  been  overheard,  it  would  have  appeared  at 
once  that  the  artful  Pete  was  playing  on  the  constable's 
vanity. 

"Good  for  me!  Good  for  Jack!"  thought  James. 
"Now,  I  won't  lose  no  time  about  it,  and  I'll  go  at  it 
like  a  man." 

Being  the  only  smith  in  the  place,  he  was  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  ins  and  outs  of  the  prison,  and 
knew  the  solitary  cell  it  boasted.  James  was  no  be- 
liever in  half- measures.  He  clambered  on  to  a  wall 
at  the  back  of  the  prison,  made  his  way  along  it,  and 
gained  a  roof.  The  grilled  window  of  the  cell  looked 
on  to  this,  and  in  a  twinkling  James  was  at  it. 

"Hist!"  he  called  through  the  bars.  "That  you, 
Jack!" 

He  had  to  repeat  the  summons  before  our  hero  put  in 
an  appearance. 

"  What  is  it?"  he  asked  sleepily.     "  You!  James!" 

"Fer  sure.  Look  here,  Jack!  Ye' re  innocent,  and 
we  knows  it." 

Our  hero  nodded  curtly.  He  had  heard  the  same  tale 
from  James  before,  and  had  blessed  him  for  his  support. 
But  the  iron  of  this  terrible  time  had  seared  his  mind ; 
his  feelings  were  dulled;  he  felt  that  he  was  already 
branded  a  thief  and  a  murderer. 

"And  I've  made  up  me  mind  ter  give  yer  a  chance. 
Look  here,  lad !  Ef  yer  go  to  prison  it'll  be  fer  ten  solid 
years,  and  thar'll  be  no  one  ter  clear  you." 

"  Well,"  asked  Jack,  his  eyes  brightening  a  little. 


A  Rude  Awakening  49 

"  Ef  yer  bolts,  people  can't  say  more  than  they  have 
done.  Yer  ain't  more  guilty  than  yer  wur  afore,  but 
yer  have  a  chance  ter  get  hold  of  that  chap  and  make 
him  clear  yer.  Savvy?  Wall,  yer  can  take  yer  liberty 
or  leave  it.  It's  right  here,  outside  the  windy.  Will 
yer  have  it?" 

Jack  thought  for  a  moment.  He  realized  that  to 
leave  was  practically  to  declare  his  guilt.  Then  he 
looked  at  the  other  side,  the  prison  side:  the  impossi- 
bility of  being  able  to  show  his  innocence — the  hope- 
lessness of  his  future  life.  Rightly  or  wrongly  he  chose 
liberty. 

"I'll  take  it,"  he  said  breathlessly.  "  How'll  you 
manage  the  bars?  I'll  leave  'em  to  you,  while  I  scribble 
a  note." 

He  went  across  to  the  far  side  of  the  cell,  where  light 
entered  the  place  in  a  thin  stream  from  a  candle  placed 
in  a  niche  in  the  corridor  outside.  Pulling  out  a  pocket- 
book,  he  wrote  boldly  and  in  large  letters : 

"  This  is  to  declare  solemnly,  on  my  word  of  honour, 
that  I  am  entirely  innocent,  and  that  every  word  I  have 
uttered  is  true.  I  have  to  face  death  or  imprisonment 
under  the  brand  of  a  felon,  and  without  hope  of  justice 
reaching  me.  On  the  far  side  of  my  prison  bars  I  see 
liberty:  if  1  can  gain  it,  the  chance  to  clear  my  good 
name  and  bring  the  right  men  to  justice.  I  choose  the 
last,  whether  it  stamps  me  guilty  or  not.  I  will  return 
when  the  time  arrives,  and  will  deliver  myself  up  again 
to  the  law." 

He  scrawled  his  name  boldly  beneath  the  words,  and 
left  the  sheet  of  paper  on  the  tiny  table.  Meanwhile 
James  had  stripped  off  his  coat,  had  wrapped  it  into 

(0179)  4 


50  Indian  and  Scout 

a  thick  buffer,  and,  placing  this  against  the  bars,  had 
broken  them  with  a  few  lusty  blows  from  his  hammer. 
In  a  minute  Jack  was  free,  shaking  himself  like  a  dog 
just  emerged  from  the  water. 

"And  now?"  he  asked. 

"Jest  come  along  with  me,  and  doggo  aer  the  order. 
Do  yer  remember  the  store  of  scrap,  back  of  the  smithy? 
Then  ye' re  goin'  thar.  Thar's  a  place  pretty  well  built 
all  ready  for  yer.  I'll  look  after  things  when  ye're 
hid,  and  send  'em  off  on  the  wrong  scent.  But  doggo 
it's  got  ter  be.  Yer  must  lie  as  quiet  as  any  mouse." 

James  led  him  swiftly  from  the  broken  cell  and  took 
him  to  the  smithy.  At  the  back,  in  the  open,  was  a 
mass  of  odds  and  ends  of  iron.  Axletrees,  plough-irons, 
swingle-bars,  rods  and  hoops,  and  old  horseshoes  galore. 
The  heap  was  piled  high,  and  leaned  against  the  side  of 
the  smithy.  But  James  was  a  tidy  man,  and  for  a  long 
while  had  insisted  on  piling  his  old  horseshoes  wall- 
fashion,  and  in  course  of  time  quite  a  big  wall  had  been 
formed. 

"Thar's  room  and  plenty  for  yer,"  he  whispered  to 
Jack,  indicating  the  heap.  "  Get  along  in,  while  I  sling 
a  few  bars  up  agin  it.  And  not  a  word  till  I  give  the 
signal,  not  even  if  you're  starvin'." 

Jack  crept  into  the  hole,  which,  by  the  way,  he  had 
never  noticed  before  in  the  scrap  heap,  and  James  threw 
a  number  of  bars  and  hoops  up  against  the  opening. 

"Ter-morrow  there'll  be  shoes  and  sichlike  to  sling," 
he  said.  "  So  long,  and  don't  forget  it,  it's  doggo." 

Running  as  fast  as  possible,  James  made  for  the  river, 
and  in  ten  minutes  had  beaten  in  the  boards  of  an  old 
dinghy  which  had  once  been  Pete's,  and  which  was  now 


A  Rude  Awakening  51 

old  and  useless.  He  cut  the  painter  and  let  the  wreck 
drift. 

"  It'll  be  down  ten  foot  and  more  in  a  jiffy,"  he  said, 
"  and  in  a  while  it'll  reach  the  bottom,  or  get  broken  up 
and  float  away.  Anyway,  it'll  give  'em  a  scent.  They'll 
turn  to  the  river,  or  the  far  shore." 

Satisfied  with  his  labours  he  retreated  to  his  house, 
clambered  in  through  the  window  of  the  bedroom,  and 
presently  called  loudly  for  his  wife. 

"  Wuss,"  he  said  as  she  entered,  sitting  up  and  treating 
her  to  a  broad  wink.  "  It's  wuss,  that  head  of  mine.  Feels 
like  a  swollen  pertater.  Can't  think.  Can't  even  sleep. 
What's  the  clock?" 

"The  time?  Why,  ten,"  answered  Mrs.  Orring. 
"You've  been  asleep,  sure." 

"That's  likely.  I  thought  it  war  somewhere's  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  sevin.  Good  night!" 

James  threw  himself  flat  again,  and  grunted,  while 
Mrs.  Orring  retired. 

"  He's  been  fast  asleep  all  this  while,  I  do  believe," 
she  said,  addressing  Jack's  mother,  and  nodding  sig- 
nificantly. "Poor  dear,  I've  left  him  to  it!" 

Having  safely  established  his  alibi,  James  Orring  fell 
into  a  deep  slumber,  and  indeed  was  still  snoring  heavily 
when  the  constable  appeared  and  insisted  on  searching 
the  premises. 


CHAPTER   IV 

The  Road  to  California 

JACK  KINGSLEY'S  escape  from  the  jail  at  Hopeville 
caused  a  huge  sensation,  and  the  hue  and  cry  raised  by 
the  constable  and  by  the  officials  in  charge  of  the  case 
extended  into  the  country  on  every  side.  It  was  clear 
that  he  had  been  aided  by  some  outside  individual, 
and,  as  was  perfectly  natural,  suspicion  fell  upon  James 
Orring. 

"  He's  been  the  one  all  through  that's  stuck  up  for 
the  prisoner,"  reported  the  constable,  at  his  wits'  end  to 
provide  a  tale  which  would  clear  himself  from  blame, 
"and  I  can't  help  thinking  he's  done  it.  But  he's  too 
clever." 

"  How?"  demanded  the  official  who  was  interrogating 
him. 

"  Just  this  way.  James  has  witnesses  to  swear  he  was 
at  home  from  after  tea  till  I  went  round  to  inspect  and 
search  the  premises.  I  went  to  his  house  the  instant 
I  learned  that  the  prisoner  had  escaped,  and  found 
James  fast  asleep." 

"  Or  kidding,"  suggested  the  official. 

"  No ;  right  down  fast  asleep,  and  no  mistake.  And 
Mrs.  Orring,  whom  I've  known  all  my  life,  declared  he'd 

62 


The  Road  to  California  53 

gone  to  bed  with  a  baddish  headache  soon  after  tea,  and 
had  been  there  ever  since.  He'd  wakened  once,  and  had 
called  her." 

"  Is  there  anyone  else  whom  you  suspect  of  complicity 
in  the  escape?"  he  was  asked. 

"Nary  one.  Jack  Kingsley  was  a  stranger,  so  ter 
speak,  and  hadn't  any  friends.  That's  why  I'll  stake 
my  davy  James  was  in  it." 

"Well?  And  have  you  any  news  as  to  the  direction 
he  took?" 

"  Down  stream,"  answered  the  constable  emphatically. 
"  I  searched  James  Orring's  yard  thoroughly,  yer  bet, 
and  then  someone  told  me  that  a  boat  was  missing. 
Later  on  it  was  reported  stranded  on  the  far  shore,  with 
the  planks  kicked  in.  So  the  prisoner  is  at  large  over 
thar." 

"Where  we  shall  lay  our  hands  on  him,"  said  the 
official.  "  I  will  send  his  description  to  all  the  stations." 

But  a  week  passed  and  still  there  was  no  trace  of  the 
prisoner. 

"  Yer  must  jest  lie  low  and  doggo  a  little  longer,"  said 
James  one  early  morning,  standing  at  the  door  of  the 
smithy,  and  speaking  apparently  to  the  air.  "Find  it 
comfortable  in  thar?" 

"  Been  in  a  worse  spot,"  sang  out  Jack  cheerily,  for  he 
was  still  ensconced  behind  James's  scrap  heap.  It's  a 
little  cramping  to  the  legs,  that's  all." 

"  And  had  enough  to  eat?" 

"Heaps,  thanks!" 

"  Then  stick  it  out  a  bit  longer.  That  'ere  Simpkins, 
the  constable,  can't  get  it  outer  his  mind  that  I  war  the 
one  to  free  yer.  He's  got  a  sorter  idea  you're  here,  and 


54  Indian  and  Scout 

he  comes  slinking  round  most  times  of  the  day.  So 
don't  yer  show  so  much  as  a  finger." 

Jack,  fortunately  for  him,  obeyed  these  instructions  to 
the  letter,  never  emerging  from  his  retreat  even  at  night- 
time. For  one  evening  the  constable  put  in  an  unex- 
pected appearance,  coming  from  the  back  of  the  houses. 
He  found  James  Orring  washing  before  a  bucket  placed 
in  the  yard  standing  between  the  smithy  and  the  house, 
and  his  wife  holding  a  towel  in  readiness  for  him. 

"  Why,  it  aer  the  constable!"  said  James  in  surprise,  as 
his  face  emerged  from  the  pail  and  he  stretched  out  for 
the  towel.  "What  in  thunder  aer  he  come  along  fer? 
Say,  Simpkins,  will  yer  come  and  have  a  bit  of  tea  with 
us?  I  knows  ye've  been  a  trifle  put  out  over  this  affair, 
and  have  got  it  stuck  into  yer  head  that  I'm  the  man 
that's  done  it.  Jest  try  to  get  the  idea  put  clean  aside, 
and  let  bygones  be  bygones.  Come  and  have  a  bit  of 
tea  and  a  smoke  afterwards." 

But  Simpkins  was  not  to  be  beguiled.  He  strode 
into  the  smithy,  and  afterwards  carefully  searched  every 
corner  of  the  yard,  climbing  on  to  the  top  of  the  scrap 
heap.  Evidently  he  disbelieved  James,  and  thought  he 
was  being  hoaxed.  His  attitude  vexed  Mrs.  Orring  till 
her  patience  gave  out. 

"Look  ye  here,  young  man,"  she  called  out  at  last, 
"  ef  yer  want  to  come  searching  round  here  most  hours 
of  the  day  and  night,  yer'd  better  by  half  come  and  take 
up  yer  quarters  here  altogether,  so  as  to  save  trouble. 
Trade's  not  been  that  good  that  we'd  sniff  at  a  lodger, 
and  we'd  make  yer  comfortable.  Then  yer  could  sit 
right  at  the  smithy  door,  and  count  the  people  what 
comes  during  the  day.  Or  yer  could  sit  right  thar  in 


The  Road  to  California  55 

the  parlour,  and  make  sure  as  sure  that  we  ain't  feedin' 
young  Jack.  More  shame  to  yer  to  hound  after  him  so! 
A  wee,  young  chap  such  as  he." 

James  Orring  laughed  heartily,  while  Simpkins  looked 
confused,  and  reddened.  He  had  a  very  great  idea  of 
his  own  importance,  and  banter  irritated  him.  More- 
over, cases  in  Hopeville  being  few  and  far  between,  he 
had  made  the  utmost  of  this  one  of  burglary  and  murder. 
He  had  been  so  energetic,  in  fact,  that  he  had  won  the 
commendation  of  the  sheriff.  And  now  the  escape  of 
his  prisoner  at  the  eleventh  hour  had  brought  ridicule 
down  on  his  head.  People  joked  him  in  the  street,  and 
his  wounded  dignity  was  ready  to  blaze  out  at  anything. 
If  Mrs.  Orring  had  been  alone  he  would  have  given  her 
a  piece  of  his  mind.  But  James  was  there,  looking  par- 
ticularly formidable,  and  laughing  heartily,  thereby  show- 
ing he  cared  not  a  fig  for  the  constable. 

"  If  I  was  you  I'd  jest  git,"  said  James.  "  This  here 
smithy  ain't  a  healthy  place  for  sech  as  you.  Don't  yer 
take  my  missus  serious.  She  don't  want  you  ter  stop 
up  here;  not  at  all." 

"  I'm  open  to  lay  anything  that  you  helped  the  prisoner 
to  escape,  "blustered  Simpkins;  "and  I  believe  that  if  I 
searched  high  and  low  I'd  find  him." 

"  Then  why  not  get  to  at  it?"  asked  James  with  a 
bantering  smile.  "  One  would  have  thought  yer  had 
already  done  it  pretty  thoroughly." 

"Then  I  haven't.  I'd  like  to  pull  the  smithy  down 
and  see  what's  behind  those  bellows,  or  up  in  the  loft 
Besides,  there's  that  heap  of  scrap.  Fer  all  I  know 
you've  hidden  him  there." 

James  Orring  went  off  into  a  peal  of  gruff  laughter 


56  Indian  and  Scout 

while  his  wife  turned  away  to  hide  her  dismay.  As  for 
Simpkins,  he  walked  to  the  tumbled  heap  of  iron  rust- 
ing against  the  smithy,  and  began  to  pull  portions  of  it 
away. 

"Say,  constable,  you'll  be  the  death  of  me,"  gasped 
James,  doubling  up  with  laughing.  "  Why,  if  that  ain't 
Seth  and  Piggy  Harten!  Say,  boys,  what  do  yer  think's 
the  latest?  This  here  Simpkins  guesses  as  Jack  Kings- 
ley's  hidden  up  somewhars  here,  and  he  wants  a  man  or 
two  ter  pull  the  smithy  about,  tear  down  the  bellows 
and  sichlike,  and  cart  away  that  heap  of  scrap.  He's 
jest  took  on  that  heap.  He  believes  as  Jack's  lyin'  there 
at  the  bottom." 

It  happened  that  Seth  was  not  on  the  best  of  terms 
with  the  constable,  and  at  James's  words  he  giggled 
audibly,  and  turned  a  scornful  face  to  Simpkins. 

"You're  jest  about  right,"  he  cried.  "Jack's  'way 
down  below  that  heap  o'  iron  scrap,  and  yer'd  best  get 
a  horse  or  so  to  pull  it  about.  Reckon  he'll  be  no  use  as 
a  prisoner  though." 

Simpkins  turned  an  enquiring  look  upon  him.  He 
was  a  stubborn  fellow,  this  constable,  and  all  the  banter 
only  made  him  more  determined. 

"Why  no  use?"  he  asked. 

"'Cos  he'll  jest  be  as  flat  as  a  pancake.  Jest  like  a 
sheet,  you  bet.  There's  three  ton  o'  iron  there,  man, 
and  it'd  squeeze  the  life  out  of  even  a  constable." 

Seth  went  off  laughing,  while  the  constable  again 
reddened.  Turning  on  his  heel,  he  gave  James  one 
quick,  vindictive  look,  and  then  departed. 

"  He  means  mischief,"  said  Mrs.  Orring.  "  That  man 
suspects  something,  and  he'll  not  be  satisfied  till  he's 


The  Road  to  California  57 

rummaged  the  smithy  and  every  corner.  Jack'll  be 
found." 

"  Ef  he's  here,"  answered  James  cunningly;  "ef  he's 
here,  missus.  Jest  yer  hop  right  in  and  tell  Mrs.  Kings- 
ley  as  her  son'll  be  at  the  back  door  a  bit  after  sevin. 
He'll  be  sayin'  goodbye.  Ef  she's  got  a  trifle  for  him, 
she'd  better  have  it  ready." 

It  was  already  getting  dusk,  so  that  there  was  little 
fear  of  being  disturbed.  James  went  promptly  to  Jack's 
hiding  place  and  dragged  away  the  odds  and  ends  of 
iron  he  had  thrown  against  the  heap  so  as  to  hide  the 
opening. 

"Yer  can  hop  out  right  now,"  he  said.  "Now,  ye've 
got  ter  git,  and  precious  slippy,  else  Simpkins'll  have 
yer.  How  aer  yer  off  for  brass?" 

"  I've  saved  fifty  -  eight  dollars,"  answered  Jack 
promptly. 

"And  here's  another  fifty.  On  loan,  lad.  Yer  can 
pay  me  back  some  o'  these  days  when  things  have 
shaped  a  little  differently.  Now,  what  aer  yer  going 
ter  do?" 

Jack  had  been  thinking  it  over  during  his  enforced 
idleness  in  his  retreat,  and  answered  promptly.  "I'll 
make  west  to  California,"  he  said.  "  Once  there  I  shall 
be  perfectly  safe.  It's  the  getting  there  that  will  be 
difficult.  There's  this  red  head  of  mine  to  tell  tales 
everywhere." 

"  To  be  sure  there  is.  But  yer  ain't  no  need  ter  fear. 
Mrs.  Orring  and  me  thought  of  that.  We've  sent  down 
river  for  a  bottle  of  hair  dye,  and  guess  it'll  change  yer 
nicely.  Come  along  into  the  smithy,  and  we'll  try  it 
right  now.  So  you'll  make  for  Californy?  And  how?" 


58  Indian  and  Scout 

"By  road.  If  I  tried  the  rail  I  should  certainly  be 
detected.  I'll  make  down  by  road  somehow.  Perhaps 
I'll  get  a  job  on  the  way.  If  not,  I'll  walk  at  night  and 
hide  up  during  the  day." 

"That's  a  cute  idea;  and  say,  youngster,  when  you 
gets  there  jest  send  a  line.  We've  took  your  mother's 
address,  and  we  can  post  on  to  her.  Don't  give  no 
proper  address,  and  don't  sign  a  name.  Savvy?  Now 
fer  the  hair." 

An  hour  later  our  hero  was  well  outside  the  township 
of  Hopeville,  on  the  road  to  California,  hundreds  and 
hundreds  of  miles  to  the  west.  He  was  glad  now  to 
have  said  farewell  to  his  friends  and  to  be  alone;  for  he 
felt  that  he  could  think  better,  that  he  could  shape  his 
actions  for  the  future,  and  decide  what  course  to  follow. 
Uppermost  in  his  mind,  swamping  all  other  considera- 
tions, was  the  overwhelming  desire  to  prove  his  inno- 
cence. That  was  a  task  which  he  would  never  neglect 
nor  forget.  But  for  the  moment  he  must  get  clear  away 
from  Hopeville,  and  be  lost,  as  it  were. 

"  In  a  year  or  so  I'll  be  able  to  grow  a  beard,"  he  said 
to  himself.  "  By  then  this  matter  will  have  been  for- 
gotten, and  so  long  as  I  do  not  come  to  Hopeville  I 
shall  be  secure.  Yes,  I  must  get  away,  and  wait  till 
my  appearance  is  changed.  For  the  present  I  have  a 
long  walk  before  me." 

All  that  night  he  trudged  on  in  a  westerly  direction, 
traversing  a  road  which  was  hardly  deserving  of  the 
name.  It  was  little  better  than  a  cart  track.  And  the 
following  night  found  him  some  thirty  miles  from  his 
starting-point.  He  had  met  no  one,  and  so  far  as  he 
knew  no  one  had  seen  him,  As  the  evening  of  the 


The   Road  to  California  59 

third  day  from  Hopeville  closed  in  he  ate  the  remainder 
of  his  provisions  and  took  the  road  again;  for  he  had 
slept  during  the  day  hidden  in  a  small  wood. 

"To-morrow  I  shall  have  to  show  myself,"  he  said. 
"  I  must  buy  food,  or  I  shall  be  unable  to  stand  the 
walking.  I'll  try  some  farm.  That  will  be  better  than 
going  to  a  town." 

It  was,  indeed,  the  only  sensible  course  to  pursue 
under  the  circumstances,  for,  had  he  but  known  of  it, 
the  constable  at  Hopeville  had  supplied  a  description 
of  the  runaway  to  all  towns  within  a  hundred  miles, 
while  so  greatly  had  the  trial  preyed  upon  Jack  that, 
in  spite  of  the  change  in  his  complexion,  he  felt  nervous 
of  discovery,  as  if  the  first  woman  or  child  who  met  him 
would  recognize  him  at  once.  It  was  a  horrible  feeling, 
and  not  to  be  conquered  till  time  had  elapsed. 

Jack  had  covered  some  five  miles  of  his  tramp  that 
night  when  his  ear  detected  sounds  in  the  distance.  He 
moved  forward  cautiously,  and  presently  discovered  a 
cart  and  horse  halted  in  the  roadway.  A  man  was 
walking  to  and  fro  beside  the  cart,  talking  to  himself 
excitedly,  and  kicking  the  ground  as  if  he  were  in  a 
temper.  Our  hero  took  as  close  a  look  at  him  as  pos- 
sible, for  now  and  again  the  stranger  crossed  before  the 
beam  of  light  thrown  out  from  a  solitary  lantern.  He 
was  ridiculously  short,  and  ludicrously  dressed.  On  his 
head  was  a  black  wideawake,  from  beneath  the  brim  of 
which  rolls  of  hair  descended  till  they  trailed  on  to  his 
shoulders.  He  wore  a  short  frockcoat,  the  tails  of 
which  came  little  lower  than  his  waist,  and  served  to 
accentuate  his  lack  of  stature,  while  a  massive  chain 
flashed  across  a  rather  ample  waistcoat.  The  face  was 


60  Indian  and  Scout 

neither  ugly  nor  handsome,  while  at  the  same  time,  in 
spite  of  the  temper  in  which  this  individual  undoubtedly 
was,  it  gave  promise  of  kindliness.  Jack  took  his  courage 
in  both  hands. 

"  Goody!"  he  said,  striding  up.     "  Anything  amiss?" 

The  stranger  started  back  at  first,  and  looked  not  a 
little  frightened.  Then  he  took  the  lamp  and  inspected 
our  hero  carefully,  while  it  was  as  much  as  the  latter 
could  do  to  return  his  glances.  That  odious  accusation, 
the  fact  that  he  was  an  escaping  criminal,  had  almost 
robbed  his  youthful  face  of  its  refreshing  frankness. 

"  My  word !  Thought  you  was  that  villain  George  at 
first,"  said  the  stranger.  "Jest  see  here.  I  hired  him 
out  to  look  after  the  hosses  and  act  the  professional 
man.  He  took  good  wages  too.  And  he's  jest  bolted. 
Said  as  he'd  follow,  and  hasn't  Met  him  on  the  road?" 

Jack  shook  his  head.     "  Seen  no  one,"  he  said. 

"  Wall,  that  jest  proves  it.  He's  done  a  bolt,  and  my 
tin  box  has  gone  with  him.  Guess  it's  lucky  I  cleared 
the  cash  last  night.  What  might  you  be  doin'?" 

"  Travelling  west,"  said  Jack. 

"  Business?"  asked  the  stranger. 

"  N-n-no.  Just  travelling  west,"  answered  Jack.  "  I'm 
making  for  the  diggings." 

"Oh!"  exclaimed  the  little  man.  "Likely  enough 
you're  goin'  to  meet  friends  there." 

"  I  haven't  any,"  said  Jack,  shaking  his  head,  and 
thinking  rather  bitterly  of  his  position. 

"Then  you  ain't  in  a  hurry,  and  you  ain't  fixed  for 
a  job.  P'raps  you've  no  need  fer  one." 

Again  Jack  shook  his  head.  He  was  not  going  to  be 
communicative  to  this  little  man,  and  yet  at  the  same 


The  Road  to  California  61 

time  he  could  not  afford  to  throw  away  a  chance  of 
help.  If  this  stranger  needed  a  man,  why  should  he, 
Jack,  not  accept  the  post? 

"  I'm  ready  for  a  job  when  I  find  one,"  he  said  quietly. 
"  But  I'm  bound  for  the  west." 

"And  so  am  I,  and  I  need  someone  to  accompany 
me.  See  here,"  cried  the  little  man,  "  you're  a  fair 
height,  and  would  make  up  splendidly.  "  I'll  tell  you 
what  I'll  do.  I'll  give  you  ten  dollars  a  week  and  your 
food  to  come  with  me.  You'll  have  to  feed  and  mind 
the  horses,  and  clean  out  the  van.  Then,  when  we  set 
up  shop  at  the  towns,  you'll  have  to  dress  up  fine  and 
come  on  the  stage." 

"Stage!"  exclaimed  Jack,  somewhat  bewildered. 

"  Jest  so.  I'll  explain.  I'm  a  travelling  conjuror  and 
mesmerist.  I  have  to  have  help.  Wall,  to  be  candid, 
there  are  tricks  that  can't  be  worked  without  a  second 
man.  You'll  have  a  beard  and  moustache,  and  will 
dress  in  a  frockcoat,  and  all  that,  to  look  professional, 
and  you'll  hang  about  till  I  call  for  one  of  the  audience 
to  come  on  the  stage.  That'll  be  your  chance.  You'll 
hop  up,  and  the  trick  will  go  like  fire.  And  for  the  job, 
ten  dollars  a  week,  your  grub,  and  lodging  in  the  van. 
It's  as  snug  as  any  house." 

It  was  a  tempting  offer,  and  Jack  decided  to  accept  it 
at  once.  But  he  asked  another  question. 

"  How  about  California?  I'm  bound  there,  and  must 
go.  I  warn  you  I  could  not  stay  very  long  in  your 
service." 

"  And  no  need.  I'm  makin'  west,  and  you  and  me'll 
be  strangers  wherever  we  go.  Leastwise,  you  will,  for 
I've  been  along  the  route  before.  Wall,  now,  you'll  get 


62  Indian  and  Scout 

known,  and  ef  on  the  return  run  the  same  man  appears, 
and  walks  up  on  the  stage,  the  people  would  spot  some- 
thing wrong  and  funny.  You  can  leave  at  the  end  of 
the  trip,  and  I'll  pick  up  another  man." 

"Then  I  accept,"  said  Jack. 

He  had  been  thinking  keenly  all  the  while,  and  saw 
in  the  offer  now  made  him  an  excellent  opportunity  of 
obtaining  work  and  a  disguise  at  the  same  time.  One 
thing,  however,  he  did  not  like  entirely.  He  asked  him- 
self whether  he  was  to  be  a  dupe,  whether  the  post  he 
had  accepted  would  entail  behaviour  likely  to  gull  the 
public.  If  that  were  so,  he  decided  offhand  that  he 
would  leave  this  little  man  promptly;  for,  though  his 
position  was  critical,  and  arrest  stared  him  in  the  face 
at  any  moment,  Jack  was  not  the  one  to  lend  himself 
to  dishonesty, 

"  I'm  innocent,  Heaven  knows,"  he  thought,  somewhat 
bitterly,  "and  I  have  to  clear  myself  of  that  crime  for 
which  I  was  about  to  be  condemned.  But  I  will  not 
begin  the  task  I  have  set  myself  by  acting  dishonestly 
in  any  way." 

"What  name,  please?"  he  asked. 

"  Amos  Shirley,  at  your  service  from  right  now." 

In  the  feeble  light  given  by  the  solitary  lamp  the  little 
man  pulled  off  his  huge  hat  with  a  theatrical  gesture, 
and  bobbed  in  Jack's  direction.  Indeed,  looking  at  him 
there,  he  was,  without  doubt,  a  comical  little  man,  full  of 
his  own  importance,  with  plenty  of  humour  and  kindli- 
ness, and,  if  the  truth  be  told,  given  not  a  little  to  pom- 
posity. 

"Amos  Shirley,  conjuror,  clairvoyant,  mesmerist, 
known  up  and  down  the  country.  And  you?" 


The  Road  to  California  63 

"Tom  Starling,"  answered  Jack,  reddening  under 
Amos's  gaze,  a  fact  which  the  little  man  noted,  for  he 
coughed  significantly. 

"  And  I  wish  to  say  that  I  reserve  the  right  of  giving 
a  week's  notice  at  any  time,  and  also  that  while  I  will 
help  you  willingly,  and  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  I  will 
not  lend  myself  to  any  underhand  tricks,  any  sort  of 
subterfuge,  likely  to  gull  your  public." 

Amos  Shirley  gave  vent  to  a  shrill  whistle. 

"  Then  the  job's  off,"  he  said  promptly,  watching  our 
hero  closely.  For  this  conjuring  business  was  no  easy 
one  to  manipulate,  particularly  with  the  intelligent 
people  to  be  met  with  in  America.  Amos  had  before 
now  discovered  that  an  audience  of  miners,  for  instance, 
not  wholly  convinced  of  the  genuineness  of  a  trick, 
were  apt  to  insist  on  embarrassing  conditions,  and  were 
not  above  pelting  the  conjuror,  or  even  perforating  the 
stage  with  their  bullets.  He  had,  indeed,  found  before 
now  that  miners  and  cowboys  required  clever  humouring; 
and  while  they  were  ready  to  pay  liberally,  and,  indeed, 
to  throw  dollar  notes  on  the  stage  if  pleased  in  some 
particular,  that  they  were  at  the  same  time  a  merry, 
high-spirited  lot,  apt  now  and  again  to  become  play- 
fully reckless,  and  attempt  a  counter  attraction,  which 
chiefly  took  the  form  of  showing  how  easily  they 
could  shoot  the  front  lights  of  the  stage  away,  or 
puncture  the  broad-brimmed  hat  of  the  conjuror  with 
their  bullets  without  doing  any  real  harm. 

"  I'm  sorry,"  replied  Jack.     "  Goody!" 

"  Hold  on.  Say  now,"  said  Amos,  feeling  that  he 
was  about  to  lose  a  chance.  "  Who  said  there  was 
any  gulling?" 


64  Indian  and  Scout 

"  No  one,"  answered  our  hero.  "  At  the  same  time 
I  gathered  there  might  be  some  sort  of  wish  on  your 
part.  I'll  help  in  every  way  when  it's  a  case  of  con- 
juring, for  we  all  know  that  sleight  of  hand  is  required, 
and  general  smartness.  But  in  mesmerism,  or  anything 
of  that  sort,  I'll  not  take  a  hand." 

"  Gee!  That's  straight.  Say  now,"  cried  Amos,  "  I'll 
take  you  on  those  terms.  You're  a  queer  fish,  you  are, 
sticking  out  about  such  a  trifle.  But  we  won't  quarrel. 
You  will  learn  what's  expected,  and  I've  sufficient  good 
tricks  to  play  without  overstepping  your  decision.  Let's 
git  along.  Had  any  food?" 

For  five  weeks  in  succession  our  hero  travelled  west 
with  Amos,  and  the  two  became  excellent  friends.  He 
found  the  work  to  his  liking,  and  the  post  an  excellent 
passport.  No  one,  unless  well  acquainted  with  Jack, 
could  have  detected  in  Amos's  helper  the  escaped 
prisoner  from  Hopeville.  The  hair  die  disguised  him  well, 
while  the  beard  and  moustache  he  donned,  as  soon  as 
the  stage  was  erected  before  the  travelling  wagon,  made 
him  even  more  secure.  But  it  is  always  the  unforeseen 
that  happens.  One  evening,  when  he  had  stepped  on 
to  the  stage,  dressed  in  top  hat,  frockcoat,  beard,  and 
moustache,  to  help  his  employer  in  some  conjuring 
trick,  his  eyes,  roaming  over  the  faces  of  the  collected 
audience,  met  one  which  was  familiar.  It  was  Simpkins, 
the  constable  from  Hopeville,  sharp  and  alert,  closely 
inspecting  his  neighbours  in  the  audience,  and  every 
person  within  his  vision. 


CHAPTER  V 

On  the  Railway 

As  the  constable's  eyes  travelled  round  the  audience 
watching  Amos  Shirley's  conjuring  performance,  and 
finally  alighted  on  the  stage,  Jack  felt  as  if  he  would 
have  given  anything  if  the  rough  boards  beneath  his  feet 
would  open.  He  sat  in  a  chair,  holding  in  his  hand  a 
handkerchief,  in  which  his  employer  had,  a  moment 
or  so  before,  wrapped  a  silver  dollar,  before  the  eyes 
of  the  gazer. 

"You  are  sure  it  is  there,  ain't  yer,  friends?"  said  the 
little  man,  stepping  to  the  front  of  the  stage,  and  wag- 
ging his  head  in  a  peculiar  way  he  had.  "  Did  I  hear 
someone  say  it  was  not  there?  Yes,  I  guess  so. 
Then  will  you  please  to  open  the  handkerchief,  sir, 
and  show  the  audience  whether  it  contains  something 
or  nothing." 

He  tripped  up  to  Jack,  tapped  the  handkerchief  with 
his  wand,  and  displayed  to  the  eyes  of  all  the  dollar 
he  had  placed  there. 

"And  now  to  proceed  with  the  feat,"  he  cried,  in  his 
most  pompous  manner.  "  We  wrap  the  coin  so,  and 
thar  ain't  no  mistake  about  it.  That  dollar's  thar  solid. 
Yer  can  hear  the  tap  of  the  wand.  It's  thar,  and  in 

(0179)  65  5 


66  Indian  and  Scout 

a  moment  I'll  transfer  it  to  the  audience.  Now,  one, 
two,  three.  There  she  goes." 

He  waved  the  wand  again,  and  then  caught  the 
handkerchief  from  Jack's  fingers. 

"  Say,  did  yer  feel  it  fly?"  he  asked. 

Simpkins's  eyes  were  now  on  our  hero,  and  for  the 
moment  the  latter  felt  as  if  the  constable  were  a  snake 
whose  gaze  fascinated  him.  Jack  was  almost  trembling. 
In  his  mind's  eye  he  saw  the  cell  from  which  he  had 
so  recently  escaped,  that  sombre  court  in  which  the 
trial  had  proceeded,  and  in  the  near  distance  the  prison 
to  which  he  would  be  sent  to  spend  ten  solitary,  hope- 
less years  of  his  life.  He  could  only  shake  his  head 
to  the  question. 

"Yer  didn't  feel  it  fly.  But  it's  gone.  Ye're  sure 
of  that?" 

Jack  nodded  his  head  vigorously,  while  for  one  brief 
second  he  looked  squarely  into  Simpkins's  eyes.  Did  he 
see  suspicion  there?  Or  was  that  only  a  morbid  fancy? 
The  doubt  was  terrifying,  and  to  speak  the  truth  Jack 
Kingsley  was  at  that  moment  as  near  to  acting  foolishly 
as  ever  in  his  life.  The  impulse  was  with  him  to  leap  to 
his  feet,  to  jump  from  the  platform,  and  race  away  for 
his  life.  For  there  was  suspicion  in  Simpkins's  eyes. 
Every  man  he  regarded  while  on  this  special  journey 
upon  which  the  officials  had  sent  him  was  a  suspect, 
the  prisoner  who  had  escaped  from  Hopeville.  Even 
the  same  man  with  the  black  beard  and  moustaches 
who  had  clambered  on  to  the  stage  at  the  call  of  the 
conjuror  might  be  the  man  he  was  searching  for.  And 
in  consequence  the  constable  regarded  him  with  a  fixed 
stare,  and  struck  by  something,  the  height  perhaps,  or 


On  the  Railway  67 

some  unconscious  pose  of  Jack's,  moved  a  trifle  closer. 
A  moment  later  a  movement  on  the  part  of  Amos 
arrested  further  advance. 

"  Ah,  there  is  no  mistake,  my  friends !  That  coin  is 
gone,  flown,  as  I  said  it  would.  And  already  I  can  see 
it.  Pardon  me,  sir,  but  you  have  it." 

The  wand  pointed  direct  at  Simpkins,  much  to  the 
latter's  annoyance.  He  attempted  to  move  away,  but 
the  crowd  wedged  him  in,  and,  moreover,  all  eyes  were 
on  him.  A  chorus  of  laughter  greeted  his  attempt. 

"  He  never  made  a  dollar  easier  in  all  his  life,"  cried 
one  of  the  audience.  "Stop  him!  That  ain't  his 
money." 

The  sally  drew  another  roar  from  the  crowd,  and 
set  Simpkins  scowling.  Amos,  with  all  his  showman's 
instincts,  made  the  most  of  the  occasion. 

"  Say,  sir,"  he  called  out,  "  if  I  may  trouble  yer.  That 
money  ain't  yours  altogether,  though  yer  happen  to 
have  it  on  you.  Would  you  jest  mind  stepping  along 
this  way  and  handin'  it  over?  I  wouldn't  trouble  yer, 
but  then,  if  I  was  to  come  down  myself,  the  gentlemen 
here  might  think  there  was  some  faking,  and  that  I'd 
jest  dropped  the  coin  right  where  it  is.  Jest  a  moment, 
sir,  and  thank  ye." 

Simpkins  could  not  draw  back,  and,  finding  that  his 
scowls  only  made  merriment  for  the  crowd,  he  came 
forward  unwillingly,  shaking  his  head  all  the  while. 

"  Ye're  mistook,"  he  called  out.  "  There's  not  a  stray 
dollar  about  me.  Yer  can  hunt  if  yer  like." 

He  mounted  to  the  platform,  and  stood  there  awk- 
wardly, within  three  feet  of  Jack,  and  directly  facing 
him.  Would  he  stretch  out  his  hand  and  take  the 


68  Indian  and  Scout 

prisoner?  Did  he  actually  recognize  the  young  man 
sitting  there  apparently  so  cool,  and  yet  in  reality 
quaking? 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  Amos.  "  Yer  said  you  hadn't 
got  that  'ere  dollar,  and  I  call  the  audience  to  witness 
as  yer  added  that  yer  hadn't  a  stray  dollar  anywheres. 
But  if  that  ain't  a  silver  dollar,  why " 

"Good  fer  you!  He's  got  it,"  came  the  same  voice 
from  the  crowd  "  Didn't  I  say  he  was  fer  walkin'  off. 
Hold  on  to  it,  siree.  We're  all  able  to  swear  as  it's 
yours." 

The  reader  can  imagine  the  confusion  of  the  constable, 
as  Amos,  standing  on  tiptoe,  reached  for  his  hat,  and, 
having  removed  it  from  Simpkins's  head,  showed  a  dollar 
resting  in  it.  And  still  more  so,  when,  as  if  not  yet 
satisfied,  the  conjuror  discovered  a  second  in  the  lining 
of  the  hat,  a  third  in  his  handkerchief,  and  others  else- 
where, not  to  mention  a  variety  of  objects  from  his 
pockets,  such  as  silk  neckcloths,  a  toy  gun,  and  last 
of  all  a  live  rabbit.  Then  indeed  was  the  constable 
overcome.  He  dashed  from  the  stage  and  away  from 
the  audience,  followed  by  their  shouts  of  merriment. 
But  he  left  his  mark  behind.  Never  before  had  Amos 
found  his  assistant  so  unsympathetic.  His  carelessness 
was  remarkable,  and  more  than  one  trick  was  almost 
spoiled.  For  our  unfortunate  young  hero  was  more  than 
perturbed.  The  chilling  influence  of  the  law  was  on 
him,  and,  do  what  he  could,  he  failed  to  drive  from  his 
mind  that  ever-present  dread  that  his  disguise  was 
discovered. 

"  I  shall  have  to  bolt  again,"  he  thought,  as  he  sat 
in  the  chair  facing  the  audience.  "There  is  nothing 


On  the  Railway  69 

else  for  it.  Simpkins  will  be  asking  questions  all 
round,  and  the  instant  he  hears  from  Amos  that  I 
met  him  back  east  on  the  road,  he'll  know  that  I'm 
his  man.  I  must  go  the  instant  this  business  is  over." 

It  seemed  an  eternity  before  the  performance  was 
ended,  and  he  was  able  to  retire  to  the  wagon.  Then, 
at  once,  he  accosted  his  employer. 

"  I  want  to  say  something,"  he  said  quietly,  "  and  I 
hope  you  won't  think  badly  of  me.  But  I  must  leave 
you  at  once.  Never  mind  the  reason.  I  must  go  right 
now  without  another  minute's  delay.  I  know  it  will  put 
you  out  a  little,  for  you  will  want  someone  else.  But 
I  am  willing  to  hand  back  half  the  wages  you  have  paid 
me." 

Amos  regarded  his  young  helper  with  an  expression 
of  surprise  and  concern.  He  had  come  to  like  his  right- 
hand  man  very  much,  and  indeed  treated  him  now  more 
as  if  he  were  his  son. 

"Gee!"  he  cried.  "What's  this?  Leave  right  now, 
but " 

"  I  am  sorry.  It  must  be,  though,"  said  Jack.  "  Here's 
the  money.  Half  of  what  I  have  earned.  Shake  hands 
and  let  me  go." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause  while  Amos  regarded 
him  critically  and  with  a  kindly  eye. 

"Ye've  acted  straight  and  willing  by  me  all  through, 
yer  have,  Tom,"  he  said  at  last,  "and  if  yer  must  go, 
why  yer  must.  But  you'd  better  by  half  trust  a  man 
who's  to  be  trusted.  I  ain't  a  fool.  I've  seen  all  through 
that  yer  had  something  hard  on  yer  mind,  and  I've  often 
felt  sorry  for  yer.  It  does  a  chap  good  sometimes  to 
find  a  real  friend  who  won't  give  him  away,  and  who'll 


70  Indian  and  Scout 

be  right  alongside  to  lend  him  some  advice.  What's  it 
all  about,  lad?  Yer  can  trust  me  as  you  could  yer  own 
mother.  What's  the  trouble?  If  it's  bad  I  may  be  able 
to  advise,  fer  after  all  these  years  I'm  a  knowing  old 
bird.  In  any  case  I'm  sound.  Your  secret  stays  with 
me  safe  as  if  it  was  locked  up  in  a  bank." 

He  held  out  a  friendly  hand,  and  Jack  gripped  it, 
gulping  hard  all  the  while  at  the  lump  which  filled  his 
throat.  He,  too,  had  become  much  attached  to  Amos. 
Indeed,  they  had  been  more  like  father  and  son.  And 
in  his  employer  he  had  long  since  discovered  a  man  who 
lived  on  no  bed  of  roses,  but  who  had  to  work  hard  for 
a  living.  But  with  it  all  he  was  a  good  fellow,  by  no 
means  grasping,  ready  always  to  lend  a  helping  hand. 
More  than  that,  too,  he  was  trustworthy,  and  sufficiently 
a  man  of  the  world  to  be  able  to  look  at  two  sides  of  a 
question. 

"  I'm  an  escaped  prisoner,"  he  said  suddenly,  blurting 
out  the  words.  "  I  was  taken  at  Hopeville,  and  broke 
out  of  my  cell.  The  charge  was  one  of  burglary  in 
which  a  murder  was  concerned." 

"Wall?"  asked  Amos  coolly,  still  gripping  his  hand. 

"  I  can't  tell  the  whole  tale  here.     I  haven't  time." 

"  And  no  need,  neither,"  came  the  answer.  "  I've  seen 
it  in  the  papers,  and  all  about  the  escape.  What  else?" 

"  I  swear  I  am  innocent.  As  you  know  the  whole 
story,  you  will  remember  how  I  was  taken.  I  swear 
that  I  had  followed  those  men  to  warn  the  people  of 
the  house.  James  was  the  only  one  to  believe  me — 
James  Orring  of  the  smithy  at  Hopeville.  I  hadn't 
another  friend,  save  his  wife  and  my  mother.  So  I 
made  up  my  mind  to  bolt,  for  outside  a  prison  I  have 


On  the  Railway  71 

a  chance  of  finding  those  men  and  of  clearing  myself." 

"  Guess  you  have,"  came  the  reply.  "  Guess,  too,  that 
yer  did  right,  and  Jim  Orring  aer  a  good  man  to  help 
yer." 

There  was  a  smile  on  his  face  now,  and  it  increased  as 
Jack  regarded  him  with  a  startled  expression. 

"  Yer  see,"  he  explained,  "  Jim  and  me  aer  friends,  and 
have  been  since  we  were  nippers  together  at  Hopeville. 
That  'ere  place  is  where  I  war  born,  and  reckon  I  know 
every  man,  woman,  and  child  thar.  But  I've  been  away 
a  heap,  and  have  seen  so  many  people  that  I  begin  to 
forget.  For  instance,  I  didn't  quite  fix  that  'ere  Simp- 
kins  when  first  I  set  eyes  on  him.  Jim  Orring  aer  an 
old  friend,  and  now  that  you  tell  me  he's  yours  too, 
and  that  he  was  one  of  few  to  believe  in  you,  I  ain't 
surprised  he  helped  yer  to  break  out.  Yer  needn't  get 
startled,"  he  continued,  for  Jack  showed  his  concern  at 
the  last  statement,  for  he  was  anxious  that  no  harm 
should  come  to  the  smith.  "  I've  jest  guessed  the  last 
part,  and  reckon  I'm  dead  right.  It's  the  sort  of  hand- 
some thing  Jim  would  get  to  doin'.  But  you  haven't  any 
need  to  admit  that  he  helped  yer.  Don't  say  a  word. 
Wall,  now,  I  suppose  it  is  Simpkins  that's  disturbed 
you?" 

Jack  nodded.  He  was  so  taken  up  with  thoughts  of 
his  escape  that  he  could  scarcely  speak,  and,  in  spite  of 
Amos's  kindness,  was  anxious  to  flee. 

"  I  recognized  him  after  a  bit,"  went  on  Amos,  "  but  I 
didn't  connect  him  with  you.  I  thought  perhaps  that 
he  meant  trouble  with  me,  for  six  months  ago,  back 
there  close  to  Hopeville,  there  was  a  ruction  round  my 
stand  one  night.  A  rough  in  the  audience  wouldn't 


72  Indian  and  Scout 

give  me  a  fair  show  to  get  on  with  my  performance. 
Wall,  it  came  to  blows,  and  jest  when  I  saw  Simpkins 
I  thought  he  was  here  on  that  concern.  Seems  he  ain't ; 
but  I  took  the  pluck  out  of  him  anyway.  Now,  let's 
think.  He's  a  nasty  fellow  is  Simpkins,  suspicious,  and 
all  that;  and,  as  sure  as  eggs  are  eggs,  he'll  be  round 
here  asking  me  where  I've  been,  who's  my  man,  and 
where  I  got  him ;  for  of  course  he  knows  I  always  have 
a  man  to  help  in  the  show.  Yes,  Tom,  guess  ye've  got 
to  git  slippy.  I  won't  stop  yen  Yer  hop  right  off,  and 
jest  put  that  money  back  in  yer  pocket.  I'll  get  another 
man  easy,  and  no  bother.  Jest  remember  this,  ef  you're 
in  any  trouble,  Amos  is  the  one  to  call  on.  He's  along- 
side of  Jim.  He  believes  that  you're  as  innocent  of  that 
'ere  crime  as  any  baby." 

He  gave  Jack's  hand  a  firm  and  kindly  squeeze,  and 
put  courage  into  him.  Indeed,  those  few  seconds  did 
a  great  deal  for  our  hero.  The  fact  that  another  man 
believed  in  him  put  heart  into  the  lad,  braced  him  for 
the  work  before  him,  and  lifted  a  load  from  his  mind. 
He  seemed  at  once  to  be  able  to  look  more  clearly  and 
resolutely  into  the  future. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  he  answered  gratefully.  "  Then  I'll 
go,  and  go  all  the  happier  for  what  you've  said." 

"And  how'll  yer  move?"  asked  Amos  curiously. 

"  I  don't  know  one  bit.  I  want  to  get  out  of  the  town, 
and  then  I  can  think." 

"  Wall,  I  ain't  going  to  ask  more,  but  a  nod's  as  good 
as  a  wink  they  say.  Supposin'  you  was  to  make  fer  the 
station.  We  ain't  at  the  end  of  the  rail  yet.  It  runs 
on  another  hundred  miles  easy.  Wall,  supposin',  I  say^ 
yer  was  to  make  for  the  station,  and  found  a  train  likely 


On  the  Railway  73 

to  leave  for  the  west.  It  ain't  difficult  to  climb  aboard 
when  she's  under  weigh.  That  means  yer  havn't  booked, 
and  no  one  here'll  be  the  wiser,  specially  Simpkins. 
Twenty  miles  out  you  get  down  and  buy  a  ticket.  To- 
morrer  you'll  be  as  safe  as  a  house.  Goodbye,  lad, 
I've  been  pleased  to  meet  yer." 

There  were  tears  in  Jack's  eyes  as  he  bade  farewell  to 
his  employer  and  sped  from  the  wagon.  Somehow  or 
other  the  fear  of  arrest,  the  consciousness,  ever  present 
with  him,  that  he  was  under  the  ban  of  the  law,  that  he 
was  a  criminal  at  large,  had  undermined  his  natural 
resolution  and  courage.  The  feeling  was  so  strange  to 
him,  and  in  course  of  time  had  so  mastered  the  lad,  that 
he  began  almost  to  feel  as  if  he  were  actually  guilty. 
But  a  few  moments'  conversation  with  Amos  had  done 
wonders.  Jack's  head  was  set  well  back  on  his  shoulders 
again.  As  he  left  the  wagon  he  walked  like  a  man 
conscious  of  his  own  uprightness,  ready  and  willing  to 
face  the  world  frankly  and  courageously. 

"I'll  take  his  hint,"  he  thought,  as  he  threaded  his 
way  through  the  streets.  "But  let  me  take  one  last 
look  to  see  that  I  am  not  followed." 

He  cast  his  eyes  down  the  road,  and  saw  at  the  end 
the  wagon  which  sheltered  Amos.  A  man  was  walking 
towards  it  from  the  far  distance,  and  our  hero  watched 
as  he  stopped  at  the  wagon  and  finally  entered.  It  was 
Simpkins,  the  constable. 

"  And  likely  to  hear  a  tale  which  will  put  him  off  the 
scent,"  said  Jack,  now  by  no  means  dismayed.  "  Here's 
the  station.  I'll  get  into  a  corner  and  wait  till  it's  dark." 

There  were  a  number  of  men  lounging  about  the  place, 
for  the  station  was  a  sort  of  no-man's  land  where  the 


74  Indian  and  Scout 

idlers  and  curious  gathered.  There  was  no  platform  to 
be  seen.  Only  a  wooden  flooring  under  a  barnlike  roof, 
while  the  train  lying  in  the  station  was  composed  of 
rough  carriages,  which  bore  no  resemblance  to  the  mag- 
nificent vehicles  now  plying  to  and  fro  on  American 
railways.  At  the  tail  of  the  train  was  an  open  truck 
with  deep  sides.  Jack  looked  at  it  longingly. 

"  When  does  she  start?"  he  asked  one  of  the  idlers. 

"  Sevin,  sharp,"  was  the  curt  answer.     "  Goin'  west." 

"  Then  she'll  suit  me,  thought  Jack.  I'll  go  along  the 
line  and  look  out  for  a  spot  from  which  I  can  board 
her." 

It  was  already  getting  dusk,  and  by  the  time  he  had 
walked  half  a  mile  it  was  almost  dark.  He  had  tra- 
versed a  level  stretch  of  rail  till  now,  but  was  delighted 
to  find  that  he  had  reached  a  steep  up  gradient. 

"  It  is  a  heavy  train,"  he  thought,  "  and  will  be  sure  to 
slow  down  here.  I  must  manage  to  get  aboard." 

He  sat  down  and  waited  patiently,  wondering  the 
while  what  Amos  was  doing,  and  what  had  happened 
during  his  interview  with  Simpkins.  If  only  he  had 
known  it,  that  interview  had  been  more  than  humorous. 
For  the  astute  little  showman  had  been  suddenly 
afflicted  with  forgetfulness.  He  could  hardly  even 
remember  Simpkins,  much  less  the  fact  that  he  was  a 
constable.  As  to  his  man,  well,  he  might  be  wandering 
in  the  town.  In  any  case  Simpkins  might  see  him 
when  he  cared  to  call.  Yes,  he  was  a  good  young  chap, 
had  been  with  the  van  quite  a  time,  but  how  long  he 
wasn't  altogether  certain.  In  fact,  Amos  threw  abun- 
dance of  dust  in  the  eyes  of  the  constable.  But  he  did 
not  smother  his  natural  suspicions. 


On  the  Railway  75 

"  I  believe  the  old  hound  knows  a  heap  more  than  he 
will  say,"  growled  Simpkins  as  he  walked  away.  "  And 
I  can't  help  thinking  that  thar  was  something  about 
that  man  on  the  stage  which  struck  me  as  being 
sort  of  familiar.  Ef  it  was  young  Jack  Kingsley, 
whew!" 

He  whistled  loudly,  for  he  realized  that  re-arrest  of 
the  prisoner  would  mean  commendation  for  the  con- 
stable, and  promotion  to  a  certainty.  The  very  thought 
stimulated  him  in  his  efforts.  He  went  straight  off  to 
the  station,  and  was  just  in  time  to  inspect  the  train 
about  to  leave,  from  the  engine  right  back  to  the  truck 
trailing  at  the  end. 

"  Not  here,"  he  said  as  he  walked  away,  having  seen 
the  train  run  out  of  the  station.  "  He'll  be  in  the  town, 
I  expect.  Now  that  I  come  to  think  about  it,  that 
fellow  on  the  stage  was  jest  about  the  right  size  for  the 
prisoner,  and,  in  spite  of  the  beard  he  wore,  about  the 
same  age.  Gee!" 

There  was  something  else  which  struck  him,  some- 
thing again  to  do  with  the  pose  of  the  man  he  had 
in  his  mind's  eye.  And  now  he  remembered  that  he 
had  often  and  often  watched  Jack  as  he  sat  in  the 
court  under  trial.  His  pose  there  was  precisely  that 
of  the  man  he  had  so  lately  seen  on  the  conjurer's 
stage.  In  a  flash  it  occurred  to  him  that  this  must  be 
the  prisoner  he  sought,  and  he  went  off  at  a  run  to 
speak  again  with  Amos.  Meanwhile  the  train  had  run 
from  the  town  at  a  smart  pace,  which,  however,  dropped 
as  it  ascended  the  rise. 

"  It  will  be  a  job  to  clamber  aboard,  all  the  same," 
thought  Jack,  as  he  saw  it  coming.  "  I  suppose  it  is 


76  Indian  and  Scout 

doing  seventeen  miles  an  hour.  But  I  have  got  to 
get  aboard  somehow,  if  I  have  to  dive  for  it." 

He  stood  back  from  the  rails,  so  that  the  engine  lamps 
should  not  show  him  to  the  drivers.  But  the  instant 
it  thundered  past  he  stepped  briskly  forward.  Yes,  the 
long  line  of  heavy  vehicles  was  pounding  along  at  a 
smart  pace,  and,  more  than  that,  their  height  above  the 
rails  was  greater  than  he  had  reckoned  for.  He  watched 
the  carriages  like  a  cat,  seeking  for  a  handy  rail.  But 
one  after  another  they  swung  past  till  the  last  was  near 
at  hand.  It  was  a  species  of  conductor's  van,  and  the 
step  descended  close  to  the  ground.  There  was  a  strong 
rail  beside  it,  and  to  this  Jack  clutched  as  it  came  level 
with  him.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  had  begun 
to  run  with  the  train,  he  was  jerked  off  his  feet;  for 
the  vehicles  were  gathering  pace  every  second.  But 
Jack  was  not  to  be  easily  beaten.  He  clung  desperately 
with  one  hand  to  the  rail,  while  he  gripped  the  step  with 
his  other.  Then  he  managed  to  swing  his  body  till  it 
leaned  on  the  step,  and,  later,  to  lift  himself  clean  on 
to  it. 

"  So  far  so  good,"  he  thought.  Now  I  make  back  for 
the  truck  behind.  I'll  wait  till  I  have  gained  my  breath, 
for  there  is  no  hurry,  and  no  bridges  likely  to  strike 
me.  The  train  does  not  stop  for  twenty  miles,  and, 
as  it  has  to  ascend  a  long  gradient,  it  takes  a  time 
to  do  the  work  and  cover  the  distance.  Gee!  That 
dragging  knocked  my  boots  about." 

Five  minutes  later  he  felt  able  to  undertake  the  re- 
mainder of  the  task  before  him,  by  no  means  an  easy 
one,  namely  to  clamber  along  the  outside  of  the  coach, 
and  cross  to  the  truck  trailing  behind  the  train.  It  was 


On  the  Railway  77 

getting  chilly  on  the  step,  and  he  felt  that  if  he  did  not 
move  soon  he  would  perhaps  become  too  cramped. 
Clambering  to  his  feet,  he  gripped  the  rail  overhead, 
which  ran  horizontally  to  the  back  of  the  coach,  and 
felt  his  way  along  the  footboard  with  his  toes.  Pre- 
sently he  discovered  that,  whereas  the  rail  continued 
to  the  end,  the  boards  did  not.  They  were  cut  off 
abruptly. 

"  Which  makes  it  a  trifle  more  difficult,"  he  thought. 
"  I  shall  have  to  swing  my  way  along." 

But  to  cling  to  a  rail  and  swing  one's  way  along  it 
when  a  train  is  tearing  away  at  thirty-five  miles  an  hour, 
and  swaying  horribly,  is  no  easy  matter;  for  the  wind 
tears  and  grips  at  one  dangerously.  Jack  found  it  re- 
quired all  his  strength  to  maintain  a  grip,  and  presently 
drew  his  legs  up  and  felt  desperately  for  some  foothold. 

"  I'm  still  a  couple  of  yards  from  the  end,"  he  thought 
grimly,  casting  his  eyes  over  his  shoulder,  "  and  I'm  dead 
sure  I  can't  hold  on  like  this  all  the  way.  I  must  try — 
ah,  here's  something!" 

His  toes  lit  upon  a  beading  of  the  carriage  work,  and 
the  support  he  thus  obtained  helped  him  wonderfully. 
Then,  in  the  gloom  above,  he  discerned  a  second  rail, 
and  reaching  up  with  one  hand  managed  to  grasp  it  and 
haul  himself  a  little  higher,  with  his  toes  still  on  the 
bead.  And  now  his  head  was  on  a  level  with  the 
windows  of  the  coach. 

"Three  men,"  he  said  to  himself,  withdrawing  his 
head,  for  a  hasty  glance  told  him  that  the  coach  was 
occupied.  "  No,  four.  Whew!" 

A  second  glance  told  him  that 'there  was  a  fourth 
person;  and  once  he  had  seen  him  our  hero  dropped 


78  Indian  and  Scout 

down  again,  and  gave  vent  to  a  low  whistle.  Surprises 
seemed  to  be  ever  in  store  for  him.  The  fourth  in- 
dividual he  had  seen  was  huddled  in  a  corner  of  the 
coach,  and  the  glimpse  Jack  had  caught  of  him  showed 
that  he  was  bound  hand  and  foot. 

"Gee!  Now  what  on  earth  is  the  meaning  of  that?" 
he  asked  himself.  "  Three  men  sitting  at  the  far  end, 
with  a  lantern  at  their  feet,  and  the  fourth  a  prisoner!" 

It  was  not  the  most  comfortable  place  in  the  world  in 
which  to  puzzle  about  such  a  knotty  question,  and,  think 
as  he  might,  our  hero  could  come  no  nearer  a  solution. 
Obviously  he  must  reach  some  point  of  safety  and  then 
cogitate. 

"  I'll  get  along  this  beading  somehow,"  he  thought, 
"  and  then  take  a  look  round.  There's  queer  doings  in 
that  coach." 

Inch  by  inch  he  wormed  his  way  along  the  coach,  his 
feet  on  the  beading  and  his  hands  on  the  rail;  and  in 
course  of  time  he  gained  the  end.  Swinging  round  it, 
as  the  vehicle  gave  a  tremendous  lurch,  almost  tearing 
his  grip  away,  he  found  himself  close  to  the  buffers. 
A  moment  later  he  was  seated  on  an  iron  step  secured 
to  the  coach. 

"  So  far  so  good,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  Now,  up  I  go. 
There's  a  lantern  on  top,  and  through  it  I'll  be  able 
to  see  what's  happening." 

It  required  very  little  energy  to  reach  the  roof  of  the 
coach,  so  that  in  a  couple  of  minutes  he  was  spread 
out  on  it,  the  air  sweeping  past  him  in  a  perfect  hurri- 
cane. But  he  had  a  firm  hold  of  the  lantern,  while 
his  face  was  pressed  closely  to  it.  And  once  more  the 
shrill,  low  whistle  escaped  him.  For  one  of  the  three 


On  the  Railway  79 

men  below  had  moved.  He  had  dragged  the  individual 
who  was  bound,  into  a  sitting  position,  and  had  placed 
the  lamp  so  that  it  threw  its  light  full  upon  him.  As 
our  hero  stared  down  into  the  interior  of  the  coach,  the 
man  pulled  a  revolver  from  his  belt  and  levelled  it  at  the 
head  of  the  prisoner,  while  his  two  comrades  approached 
nearer,  and,  taking  up  their  stands  close  at  hand,  began 
to  question  the  unfortunate  man  they  had  bound. 

Jack  ran  his  fingers  over  the  lantern,  and  pulled  gently 
at  the  framing  nearest  him.  It  moved  noiselessly,  though 
a  little  sound  made  no  difference,  for  the  roar  of  the 
train  drowned  anything.  Little  by  little  he  contrived  to 
open  the  lantern,  till  the  window  provided  in  it  was 
standing  at  right  angles  from  the  main  framework. 
Then  he  dragged  himself  forward,  and  slowly  inserted 
his  head.  In  two  minutes  he  was  in  such  a  position 
that  he  could  see  the  interior  of  the  coach  clearly,  while 
he  was  directly  above  the  four  men.  More  than  that, 
once  his  head  was  through  the  window  the  roar  of  the 
wind  ceased  entirely,  while  the  rumble  of  the  train  was 
no  greater  than  those  below  had  to  contend  with.  They 
were  shouting  at  the  prisoner,  and  Jack  opened  his  ears 
wide  to  listen. 


CHAPTER    VI 

A  Hold-up 

As  Jack  looked  down  into  the  coach  with  his  head  thrust 
through  the  window  of  the  lantern,  the  view  he  was  able 
to  obtain  of  the  contents  was  infinitely  clearer  than  that 
he  had  had  when  a  dirty  pane  of  glass  intervened  be- 
tween him  and  the  interior.  Almost  directly  beneath 
him  was  the  man  holding  his  revolver  levelled,  while 
a  little  to  the  left,  his  back  propped  against  the  side 
of  the  coach,  was  the  prisoner.  He  was  heavily- 
moustached,  and  his  clothes  bore  witness  to  the  fact 
that  he  was  a  railway  employee.  Farther  off  were  the 
other  two,  young  men  to  look  at,  and  from  their  general 
appearance  hardly  the  class  of  individuals  to  lend  them- 
selves to  violence.  But  good  looks  are  not  always  a 
criterion  of  good  manners.  It  was  very  clear  that  both 
were  unscrupulous  ruffians. 

"  Now  yer  can  jest  listen  here,  conductor,"  one  of  them 
was  saying  in  loud  tones,  so  that  the  roar  of  the  train 
should  not  drown  his  words,  and  with  a  menace  in  his 
voice  which  there  was  no  mistaking;  "ye've  got  ter 
weaken  right  now,  and  without  any  more  bobbery, 
or " 

He  wagged  his  head  at  the  revolver,  while  the  rascal 
who  held  the  weapon  squinted  along  the  sights. 


A  Hold-up  81 

"  Or  what?"  demanded  the  prisoner,  his  voice  calm,  his 
courage  unshaken. 

"Or  get  what  yer  deserve.  Yer've  heard  tell  of 
us  before,  I  guess;  but  if  yer  ain't,  why,  we're  Bill 
Buster's  band,  and  that'll  tell  yer  what  to  look  out 
for.  Now  all  we  want  is  an  answer  to  a  little  question. 
Whar's  the  strong  box?  Even  if  yer  don't  tell  us, 
and  we  have  to  put  lead  into  your  carcass,  it  won't 
make  much  difference,  'cos,  we'll  have  the  whole  train 
easy,  and  then  it  ain't  hard  to  find  the  box.  By  tellin' 
us,  yer  jest  make  the  thing  easier  and  quicker.  Now, 
whar  is  it?  Number  three  coach?  Eh?" 

"  Go  and  find  fer  yerselves,"  came  the  bold  answer. 
"  I  ain't  goin'  to  say.  Look  for  yerselves. 

Sturdily  the  prisoner  faced  his  captors,  and  it  seemed 
that  he  would  remain  stubborn.  But  a  revolver  held  at 
the  head  of  a  defenceless  man  has  a  way  of  persuading; 
for  the  threat  these  rascals  had  made  was  no  idle  one. 
It  was  clear  they  would  shoot  tjie  conductor  without 
the  smallest  compunction. 

"  Wall,  a  man  has  only  one  life,  and  so  you'd  better 
have  the  answer,"  said  the  conductor  at  last,  after  a 
painful  pause.  "  Number  four's  the  wagon." 

"  Good !  Thought  you  wasn't  a  fool,"  said  the  spokes- 
man for  the  bandits.  "  Now  for  the  amount.  It  war 
clearin'  day  back  thar,  and  the  bank  has  sent  all  the 
stuff  it  could  spare.  How  much?" 

"  Guess  it's  not  far  short  of  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars,"  said  the  conductor  grudgingly.  "  But  thar 
ain't  nothin'  definite  on  the  way-bills.  One  jest  gets 
ter  kind  of  hear." 

"Twenty-five  thousand,"  cried  the  leader  of  the  men 

(0179)  6 


82  Indian  and  Scout 

below,  a  note  of  triumph  in  his  voice.  "And  thar's 
fifty-six  passengers  in  all.  Take  'em  at  ten  dollars 
a  head,  which  is  a  small  allowance;  that  means  quite 
five  hundred  dollars  more.  But  they'll  have  a  heap, 
some  of  'em.  They're  goin'  down  to  buy  farms,  and 
stock,  and  sich  like.  Now  look  ye  here,  conductor. 
Ye're  a  sensible  man,  as  yer've  proved,  and  we  ain't 
got  no  grudge  agin  yer,  so  long  as  yer  don't  get  up 
ter  no  tricks,  Ef  yer  do,  my  mate  here'll  have  a  talk 
with  yer  slippy." 

"Yer  ain't  got  any  cause  ter  bother,"  came  the 
answer.  "  Do  I  look  as  if  I  could  do  anything?" 

The  conductor  cast  his  eyes  down  at  the  cords  which 
bound  him  hand  and  foot,  and  then  laughed  harshly. 

"  Reckon  it'll  mean  a  lost  job  to  me,"  he  said.  "  But 
give  me  a  smoke.  One  of  yer  may  happen  ter  have 
a  weed." 

One  of  the  conspirators  produced  a  cigar  promptly, 
bit  off  the  end,  and,  having  placed  it  in  the  conductor's 
mouth,  held  a  light  to  the  weed. 

"  What  I  call  a  sensible  man,"  said  the  leader  of  the 
ruffians.  "  Now  we  can  git  ter  thinking  serious  of  this 
affair.  Number  four's  the  wagon.  Jim,  ye'll  make  along 
fer  that,  and  stand  up  at  the  far  end.  Tom  here'll  drop 
to  the  rails  and  run  to  the  engine.  I'll  be  with  Jim 
before  the  train's  stopped.  She'll  begin  to  go  steadier 
soon,  fer  we're  about  at  the  foot  of  the  long  draw-up, 
and  the  incline  soon  tells  upon  her.  When  she's  going 
slower  you  two  can  slip  on  to  the  footboards  and  make 
along  to  the  first  coach.  I'll  jest  bring  her  up  with  the 
screw  brake.  That's  clear?  Then  best  have  a  look  to 
see  how  the  boards  lie." 


A  Hold-up  83 

From  the  manner  in  which  the  rascals  set  about  their 
work  of  raiding  the  train  it  was  clear  that  they  were 
old  hands.  The  two  told  off  to  go  forward  did  not 
trouble  to  wait  till  the  pace  had  diminished.  They 
threw  open  the  door  of  the  coach  and  swung  themselves 
out  on  to  the  footboards.  Then  they  moved  along  them 
with  an  ease  which  put  Jack's  efforts  to  shame,  and, 
having  reached  the  second  coach,  sat  down  on  the 
boards.  By  then  the  train  was  well  on  the  incline,  and 
the  pace  was  getting  less.  Half  a  mile  farther  on  she 
was  making  only  twenty  miles  an  hour. 

"Jest  the  moment  fer  me,"  said  the  man  who  had 
remained  in  the  coach.  "  I'll  give  her  the  brake.  Now 
mind  it  that  yer  don't  interfere,  conductor.  Ef  yer  do, 
it'll  mean  a  case  of  shootin'." 

As  cool  as  an  icicle  the  man  stepped  across  to  the 
big  wheel  which  controlled  the  tail  brake  of  the  train, 
and  swung  it  round  till  it  was  hard  on.  Instantly  the 
screech  of  the  slippers  on  the  wheels  could  be  heard, 
while  a  line  of  fire  sprang  from  the  surface  of  the 
rails. 

"  That'll  do  it  in  five  minutes  or  less,"  said  the  man, 
thrusting  his  head  out  of  the  open  door.  "  No  engine 
will  be  able  ter  pull  agin  it.  So  long!  and  don't  git 
interferin'." 

He,  too,  swung  himself  out  of  the  coach,  leaving  the 
prisoner  alone,  with  Jack  still  staring  in  through  the 
lantern.  And  let  the  reader  imagine  for  a  moment  the 
struggle  going  on  in  our  hero's  mind.  Once  before,  but 
a  short  while  ago,  he  had  endeavoured  to  thwart  a  crime, 
to  come  between  robbers  and  their  prey;  and  he  him- 
self had  been  accused  of  the  crime  he  was  attempting  to 


84  Indian  and  Scout 

put  a  stop  to.  The  bitterness  of  that  bitter  experience 
was  still  with  him.  It  had  clouded  his  young  life,  till  he 
could  think  of  little  else.  And  here  he  was  face  to  face 
with  a  similar  experience,  a  crime  about  to  be  committed, 
and  he  alone  to  stand  between  the  passengers  on  the  train 
and  the  ruffians  about  to  rob  them.  It  was,  indeed,  a 
struggle.  Jack  was  not  naturally  indecisive.  He  could 
make  up  his  mind  when  he  liked,  and  quickly  too.  But 
it  must  be  owned  that  he  hesitated.  Fear  of  another  ter- 
rible misunderstanding  haunted  him.  Then  he  thought 
of  the  passengers,  of  the  man  below,  and  of  his  responsi- 
bility. In  a  moment  he  was  clambering  in  through  the 
window  in  the  lantern,  and  a  second  later  dropped  down 
into  the  coach. 

"My!     What,  another!" 

The  conductor  had  taken  him  for  one  of  the  gang, 
and  looked  at  him  with  scowling  face. 

"No,"  cried  Jack  emphatically.  "I  heard  all  they 
said,  and  I've  come  to  help  you.  There!" 

He  drew  his  knife  and  cut  the  cords,  setting  the  man 
free. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  "  I've  taken  the  first  step.  I'm  willing 
to  do  what  you  may  suggest." 

«  But — but  how  on  airth  did  yer  get  thar,  up  in  the 
lantern?"  asked  the  conductor.  "  Aer  you  a  passenger?" 

"  Yes  and  no,"  answered  our  hero  boldly.  "  I  climbed 
aboard  when  the  train  was  going,  and  got  on  the  back 
of  this  coach.  But  I'd  seen  you  tied  up  when  I  looked 
in  through  the  window.  I  thought  I'd  help." 

"And  so  ye've  risked  bein'  shot  by  those  villains. 
Lad,  ye've  grit  in  you.  Shake  a  paw.  Now,  what's 
ter  be  done?  The  train's  almost  stopping.  Ah,  swing 


A  Hold-up  85 

that  wheel  back!  My  hands  and  arms  are  too  numbed 
to  do  it.  That'll  let  the  pace  git  up  agin,  and  possibly 
leave  one  of  the  men  behind.  Next  thing  is  to  make 
along  to  the  other  coaches.  Pull  that  er  drawer  open. 
Thar's  a  couple  of  shooters  thar,  and  they're  ready 
loaded." 

Jack  followed  the  man's  orders  swiftly,  and  felt  the 
train  gathering  way  already.  Then  he  brought  the 
revolvers. 

"Get  a  grip  of  one  yerself,"  said  the  conductor. 
"  Now  jest  rub  these  arms  of  mine.  That's  the  way. 
There's  a  bit  more  feelin'  in  'em  already.  In  a  little 
I'll  have  a  grip,  and  then  we'll  give  them  rascals  sauce. 
Aer  yer  afraid?" 

"  No,  I  don't  reckon  I  am,"  answered  Jack.  "  I'll  help 
you." 

"  Then  come  along.  Stick  the  shooter  in  your  pocket 
and  grip  the  rail.  But  I  forgot,  yer've  had  experience 
jest  lately.  One  warnin'  though  before  we  move.  Ef 
yer  get  a  sight  of  those  fellers,  shoot!  Don't  wait. 
Shoot!" 

Our  hero  nodded,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  do  as  he 
was  told.  He  waited  for  the  conductor  to  get  on  to  the 
footboard,  and  followed  promptly.  Very  soon  they  had 
gained  the  next  coach. 

"  Next's  Number  four,"  shouted  the  conductor.  "  Let's 
get  on  the  roof.  We  can  make  along  there  easier,  and 
reach  'em  better.  Did  yer  hear  that?  They're  at  it." 

The  sharp  sound  of  a  pistol  shot  came  to  the  ears 
of  the  two,  and  after  it  a  shrill  cry.  They  scrambled 
to  the  top  of  the  coach  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  then 
went  on  hands  and  knees,  and  made  their  way  along 


86  Indian  and  Scout 

it  At  the  far  end  they  descended  by  means  of  the 
iron  steps  and  rails,  and  again  took  to  the  footboards. 

"  Now  get  ready  fer  shootin',"  shouted  the  conductor. 
"Thar'll  be  a  man  posted  at  this  end,  and  I'm  going 
to  fire  through  the  window  at  him.  Jest  be  prepared 
to  hop  right  in  and  take  a  shot  at  the  others." 

Jack  hung  to  the  step,  closely  hugging  the  coach,  and 
watched  the  figure  of  the  conductor  as  he  scrambled 
farther  along.  He  saw  him  stand  to  his  full  height  and 
peer  in  through  a  window.  His  revolver  was  raised 
swiftly,  and  then  there  came  a  sharp  crack  from  the 
inside  of  the  coach.  The  conductor  dropped  from  the 
footboards  without  a  sound,  and  Jack  caught  a  fleeting 
glimpse  of  his  body  bounding  over  the  side  track.  He 
was  alone  now,  and  the  safety  or  otherwise  of  the  pas- 
sengers depended  upon  him. 

"  I'll  do  it,"  he  said  to  himself,  his  blood  afire,  and  all 
hesitation  gone.  "  If  I  break  in  through  the  door  I  shall 
be  dropped  for  a  certainty.  And  if  I  attempt  to  shoot 
through  the  window  I  shall  meet  with  the  conductor's 
fate.  I'll  try  the  roof  again." 

He  went  scrambling  up,  and  within  a  minute  had 
reached  one  of  the  round  lanterns  through  which  the 
lamps  were  dropped.  Lifting  the  lid,  he  found  he  had 
a  fair  view  of  the  interior,  for  there  was  no  lamp  in 
this  lantern,  and  in  those  days  the  apertures  were  very 
large  when  compared  with  modern  fittings.  Directly 
below  him  he  detected  a  carpeted  floor  and  one  end 
of  a  seat,  while  a  pair  of  legs  stretched  over  the  carpet. 
They  evidently  belonged  to  some  unfortunate  individual 
who  had  been  shot. 

"  Likely  enough  the  one  whose  call  we  heard,"  thought 


A  Hold-up  87 

Jack.  "  Now,  let  me  think.  From  his  position  he  fell 
on  to  his  back.  He  didn't  tumble  face  downwards  and 
then  roll  over.  That  means  that  the  man  who  shot  him 
is  somewhere  underneath  me.  "  I'll  lean  over  and  get  a 
better  view." 

He  was  in  the  act  of  thrusting  his  head  into  the  wide 
lantern,  when  sounds  at  the  side  of  the  track  caught  his 
attention.  Even  in  spite  of  the  roar  of  the  train  he 
heard  shouts,  while  an  instant  later  the  darkness  was 
punctuated  by  red  flashes.  At  the  same  time  he  be- 
came aware  of  the  disagreeable  fact  that  the  spluttering, 
hissing  sounds  round  about  him  were  caused  by  bullets. 
Then  he  grasped  the  significance  of  the  situation. 

"  Gee!"  he  cried.  "  Then  they  are  the  friends  of  those 
three  rascals  who  boarded  the  cars.  Now  I  see  through 
the  whole  business.  They  were  to  tie  up  the  conductor, 
and  then  put  the  brakes  on.  That  would  bring  the 
train  to  a  halt  on  the  incline,  and  those  men  out  there 
would  ride  up  and  support  the  robbery.  Ah!  They're 
done  nicely!  We've  run  through  them.  We  shall  see 
what's  going  to  happen." 

If  Jack  was  elated  one  cannot  blame  him.  But  if  he 
thought  he  was  going  to  master  the  difficult  situation 
without  further  trouble  he  was  much  mistaken.  He 
thrust  his  head  into  the  lantern  and  took  a  careful 
survey  of  the  interior  of  the  coach.  Now  he  could 
see  the  complete  figure  of  the  man  lying  on  his  back, 
and  saw  that  he  was  dead.  There  were  four  other 
persons  near  him,  crouching  on  the  seat,  and  two  were 
ladies.  Just  a  little  farther  back,  almost  beneath  where 
his  own  feet  lay,  a  man  stood  with  arms  folded.  He 
was  tall,  sunburned — for  that  Jack  could  see,  since  he 


88  Indian  and  Scout 

was  bareheaded — and  had  a  pair  of  fine  flowing  mous- 
taches. His  arms  were  crossed  on  his  breast,  and  his 
whole  attitude  was  one  of  resolution.  A  further  effort 
on  our  hero's  part  showed  him  the  muzzle  of  a  revolver, 
held  within  six  inches  of  the  tall  man's  head,  and  finally 
of  the  figure  of  one  of  the  robbers. 

"  Should  he  fire  now?  Was  he  to  shoot  the  man 
down  in  cold  blood  as  it  were,  though  to  speak  the 
truth  Jack's  pulses  were  tingling.  Was  that  fair  play?" 

Who  will  blame  the  young  American  that  he  hesi- 
tated to  take  life?  He  waited  a  second,  and  that  wait 
nearly  proved  his  undoing.  The  robber  caught  a  glimpse 
of  him,  and  at  once  sent  a  stream  of  bullets  through  the 
roof.  They  tore  through  the  boards  on  every  side,  send- 
ing the  splinters  flying,  and  drumming  against  the  iron- 
work of  the  lantern,  and  by  the  merest  chance  they 
missed  Jack. 

"  But  he'll  have  me  if  I  ain't  extra  smart,"  thought  our 
hero,  determined  more  than  ever  now  to  get  the  best  of 
the  man.  "Ah,  here's  something  to  give  me  a  hold! 
I'll  try  through  the  window." 

He  gripped  a  short  smokestack  which  projected 
through  the  roof,  and  holding  firmly  with  one  hand 
leaned  over  the  side  of  the  car.  A  window  was  directly 
beneath,  and  well  within  his  reach.  Jack  broke  it  with 
the  butt  of  his  revolver  without  the  smallest  hesitation. 
Then,  quick  as  lightning,  he  returned  to  the  lantern  on 
top.  One  glance  told  him  that  the  man  inside  was 
standing  prepared  to  fire,  either  through  the  window 
or  through  the  lantern. 

"  I'll  make  him  think  of  the  lantern,"  thought  Jack. 
"  It's  my  only  chance  now." 


"HE   SAW   THE    RASCAL   CRUMBLE    INTCA   A,"  ^*rX    ,' 


A  Hold-up  89 

Stretched  full  length  on  the  roof,  with  his  head  de- 
pending downwards,  he  once  more  gripped  the  smoke- 
stack, and  leaned  over  the  edge  of  the  car.  Then  he 
deliberately  kicked  the  lantern  with  his  feet,  and  con- 
tinued to  drum  his  toes  against  it.  Now  was  the  time. 
He  stretched  over  till  he  could  obtain  a  clear  view  of 
the  interior  of  the  coach  through  the  window,  and  at 
once  caught  sight  of  the  robber  standing  in  the  same 
position  as  before,  his  eye  half-fixed  on  the  lantern,  and 
half  on  the  tall  man  standing  so  close  to  him.  Up  went 
Jack's  revolver,  though  aiming  was  out  of  the  question 
considering  his  inverted  position.  His  finger  went  to 
the  trigger  just  as  the  rascal  within  caught  sight  of  him. 
And  then  Jack  pressed  unconsciously,  while  at  the  same 
instant  the  cracked  glass  to  his  right  was  shivered  into 
thousands  of  fragments  and  a  cloud  of  cutting  dust  was 
blown  into  his  face. 

"  Gee !  Got  him !  But  I  do  believe  he's  managed 
to  hit  me.  Seems  mighty  like  it.  Ugh!  My 
shoulder!" 

As  if  in  a  dream  he  saw  the  rascal  within  the  coach 
crumple  into  a  heap,  and  watched  the  tall  man  dart 
forward  and  bend  over  him.  Then  a  sharp,  burning 
pain  shot  through  his  own  shoulder,  and  for  one  brief 
instant  made  him  feel  faint.  But  it  was  no  safe  place 
in  which  to  encourage  weakness,  and  with  an  effort  Jack 
braced  himself  to  the  task  still  before  him.  He  scrambled 
back  on  to  the  roof,  slid  to  the  end,  and  descended  the 
swaying  steps.  Then  he  clutched  his  way  along  the 
footboard,  and  gained  the  door  of  the  coach.  It  was 
opened  by  the  man  he  had  seen  standing  with  his  arms 
so  resolutely  folded. 


90  Indian  and  Scout 

"Come  right  in!  come  right  in!"  he  cried,  extending 
a  hand.  "  Now,  where  are  the  others?" 

Jack  was  winded  with  his  exertions,  but  managed  to 
answer.  "  One  was  to  have  gone  forward  to  the  engine," 
he  said  quickly,  "and  one  was  to  make  for  this  coach, 
where  the  third  would  join  him.  Where  they  are  now 
I  don't  know.  The  conductor  was  tied  hand  and  foot, 
but  I  released  him.  But  he  was  hit,  and  dropped  from 
the  train.  I  think  we  ran  through  the  men  who  were 
waiting  to  help  them." 

"Then  we've  had  a  fine  escape,"  came  the  answer. 
"But  we've  got  to  take  those  men,  and  the  sooner  the 
better.  Get  a  pull  on  that  cord,  and  then  be  ready  to 
shoot.  They'll  drop  from  the  coaches  the  first  chance 
they  have,  and  git  for  their  lives." 

Jack  tugged  at  the  alarm  fitted  just  outside  the  window, 
and  presently  the  brakes  began  to  grind  and  the  train 
to  slow  down.  As  it  did  so  two  figures  dropped  from  it 
and  raced  away,  Jack  and  his  companion  firing  at  them, 
while  a  number  of  passengers  in  other  coaches  did  the 
same.  Then  lamps  were  brought,  and  an  inspection 
made. 

"Guess  we're  lucky,  down  right  lucky!"  exclaimed  the 
man  whom  Jack  had  spoken  to.  "Thar's  one  man 
killed  in  this  coach.  He  swung  round  when  this  rascal 
entered,  and  put  his  hand  to  his  shooter.  That  was 
quite  enough  to  bring  a  bullet  his  way.  Reckon  there 
wasn't  a  move  left  in  the  rest  of  us.  The  fellow  had  it 
all  his  own  way.  A  chap  can't  grope  for  his  shootin' 
iron  when  a  revolver's  grinnin'  at  him.  What's  the 
news  elsewhere?" 

"Much  the  same  as  yourn,"  came  from  a  passenger. 


A  Hold-up  91 

"  We  were  kind  er  dozing,  and  I'd  jest  begun  ter  wonder 
why  in  thunder  the  chap  behind  had  put  on  his  brakes 
so  hard,  specially  when  we  were  on  a  sharp  incline,  when 
the  door  bursts  open,  and  a  young  chap  climbs  in  smart. 
'  Hands  up!'  he  says,  just  as  quiet  as  may  be,  and  'hands 
up!'  it  had  ter  be.  We  was  cornered.  That  young  chap 
was  Bill  Buster,  as  he'd  got  to  be  called  hereabouts,  one 
of  the  expertest  leaders  of  railway  breakers  and  thieves 
that's  ever  been.  What's  the  driver  say?" 

"  I  ain't  heard  nothing,"  came  from  the  latter,  who 
stood  inside  the  coach  rubbing  his  dirty  hands  with  a 
piece  of  waste.  "  I  wondered  why  the  conductor  had 
put  on  his  brakes,  'cos  it  ain't  too  easy  a  job  to  pull  out 
over  the  rise,  particular  when  thar's  a  heavy  train  like 
this.  But  he  took  'em  off  quick,  and  so  we  was  able  to 
pull  along.  Seems  thar's  been  shootin'." 

"Shootin'J  Rather!  And  it  ain't  the  fault  of  the 
rascals  as  came  aboard  that  thar  wasn't  more,"  said  the 
tall  man.  "  We  owe  it  to  this  here  young  stranger  that 
things  ain't  worse.  How'd  it  all  come  about?  Didn't 
see  you  climb  aboard  way  back  there." 

"  Because  I  climbed  aboard  down  the  road,"  answered 
Jack  boldly,  the  old  frankness  in  his  eyes,  his  face  flushed 
with  delight  and  triumph.  For  success  had  at  last  come 
his  way.  Though  he  hesitated  to  interfere  at  first,  fright- 
ened by  the  cruel  disappointment  of  that  other  experi- 
ence, he  had  in  the  end  undertaken  what  was  clearly  his 
duty,  as  it  would  have  been  the  duty  of  any  other  person 
similarly  placed.  And  success  had  come  his  way,  though 
in  gaining  it  he  had  incurred  danger.  His  head  was 
well  set  back  on  his  shoulders,  his  eyes  flashed,  and  Jack 
Kingsley  looked  his  old,  bonny  self  as  he  answered; 


92  Indian  and  Scout 

"  I  got  aboard  after  she'd  started,  and  managed  to 
reach  the  conductor's  coach.  When  I  took  a  peep 
inside,  there  he  was,  tied  up  like  a  sack,  with  three 
men  sitting  over  him.  That's  one  of  the  fellows." 

He  nodded  towards  the  body  lying  on  the  floor,  and 
wondered  vaguely  whether  it  was  his  bullet  which  had 
struck  him,  and,  if  so,  where.  Then,  leaning  against  the 
woodwork  of  the  coach,  he  continued : 

"  So  I  climbed  to  the  roof,"  he  said,  "  and  managed  to 
hear  what  was  going  on.  You  see,  there's  a  large  lan- 
tern back  there,  and  it  has  a  window  in  it.  I  learned  all 
about  the  attack,  and  saw  the  robbers  separate  while  the 
last  put  on  the  brakes  hard.  Then  I  slipped  in  quick." 

"  Yes,"  came  eagerly  from  the  assembled  passengers. 

"  There  ain't  much  more,"  said  Jack  lamely.  "  The 
conductor  led  the  way  along  to  coach  Number  four,  and 
I  followed.  He  was  shot.  Guess  he's  way  back  there 
on  the  track,  and  needs  our  help.  I  climbed  right  up 
on  to  the  roof,  and — and  the  gentlemen  here  knows  the 
rest." 

"Gee!  I  do.  This  young  chap  never'll  have  a  nearer 
shave.  There's  many  a  grown  man  who  would  have 
funked  it,"  exclaimed  the  tall  man,  "funked  it,  I  say. 
But  he  bamboozled  that  fellow.  How'd  yer  manage?" 

Jack  explained,  lamely,  that  he  had  gripped  the  smoke- 
stack and  kicked  the  lantern  with  his  feet. 

"Smart!  real  smart!"  exclaimed  the  tall  passenger, 
while  a  chorus  of  approval  came  from  the  others.  "  Say, 
siree,  who  may  yer  be,  and  where  aer  yer  goin'?  Yer 
ain't  fer  the  plains?" 

"  I'm  a  smith,"  answered  Jack  limply,  for  his  wound 
was  very  painful,  and  the  carriage  excessively  hot. 


A  Hold-up  93 

"A  smith,  and — here,  what's  the  matter  with  the  lad? 
Let  him  sit  down.  Did  the  rascal  wing  yer?" 

The  big  man  gripped  our  hero  in  his  arms  as  if  he 
were  a  child,  and  laid  him  on  the  seat.  Then  he  bent 
over  him  and  spoke  softly. 

"  Whar's  the  hit?"  he  asked.  "  Ah,  thar  ain't  no  more 
need  ter  ask!" 

Suddenly  his  eyes  had  detected  the  dark  stain  trailing 
down  Jack's  sleeve,  while  he  noticed  how  limply  the 
arm  hung.  Then  his  whole  attention  was  attracted  to 
our  hero,  for  Jack  marked  the  occasion  of  this  success  of 
his  by  fainting.  He  fell  back  heavily  on  the  seat,  and 
lay  there  as  deathly  pale  as  the  man  from  whom  he  had 
received  the  bullet. 


CHAPTER  VII 

Friends  and  Hunters 

"MY,  now,  you've  given  us  quite  a  fright!  Feel  a  bit 
queerish?  Eh?" 

As  if  in  a  dream,  Jack  heard  the  words  and  struggled 
to  answer.  But  for  some  reason  or  other,  which  his  dis- 
ordered mind  could  not  fathom,  and  which  distressed 
him  greatly,  the  words  would  not  come  to  his  lips. 
Moreover,  he  could  not  concentrate  his  wandering 
thoughts  on  any  one  matter.  Now  he  was  in  court, 
under  trial  for  robbery,  and  a  moment  later  he  was  on 
the  stage  with  Amos,  helping  in  some  conjuring  feat 
which  drew  roars  of  applause  from  the  assembled 
audience.  His  thoughts  even  swept  back  to  that 
eventful  ride  on  the  railway;  but  they  never  reached 
finality.  The  train  ran  on  and  on,  while  he  clung  to 
the  rail  and  the  footboard,  immovable,  desperate,  unable 
to  creep  forward  or  back. 

"  Say,  now,  yer  ain't  feelin'  quite  so  bad?  A  bit  shook 
up  and  so  on?  But  better,  ain't  yer?" 

Jack  opened  his  eyes,  and  saw  a  bearded  face  leaning 
over  him.  He  shut  them  again  promptly,  as  if  the  sight 
had  been  too  much  for  him,  as  well  it  might,  for  the 
individual  who  had  stared  so  closely  at  our  hero  was 
not  prepossessing,  to  say  the  least  of  it.  He  was  gently 

M 


Friends  and  Hunters  95 

pushed  aside  by  another  individual,  and  a  woman's 
gentle  voice  spoke. 

"  Leave  him  to  me  a  little,"  she  said.  "  He  is  still 
very  weak,  and  not  fully  conscious.  Leave  him,  please. 
In  a  little  while  he  will  be  better." 

Jack  felt  a  warm  pressure  on  his  hand,  and  sank  once 
more  into  oblivion.  But  it  was  a  pleasant  unconscious- 
ness on  this  occasion.  No  longer  was  he  distressed 
with  views  of  the  court,  with  counsel  for  the  prosecution 
standing  before  the  jury  and  encouraging  them  to  find 
this  young  fellow  guilty.  No  longer  did  he  cling  des- 
perately to  the  rail  of  the  train.  He  sank  into  a  dream- 
less, comforting  oblivion,  which  held  him  securely  in 
its  tender  grip  for  another  half-hour.  And  then  he 
suddenly  opened  his  eyes. 

"Well,  now,"  he  exclaimed,  somewhat  feebly,  for  his 
tongue  seemed  to  be  heavily  loaded,  "where  on  earth 
am  I?  And  what  has  been  happening?  Coming,  sir, 
coming." 

Back  wandered  his  mind  to  Amos,  and  he  fancied  he 
heard  the  conjurer  calling  to  him. 

"  Lie  still  and  you'll  feel  better.  Sip  this,"  said  some- 
one, and  at  once,  obedient  to  the  command,  too  weak  to 
be  over  curious  as  to  why  it  was  given  or  by  whom,  our 
hero  sipped  at  the  glass  placed  to  his  lips.  And  the 
spirit  there  revived  him  wonderfully.  It  was  as  if  a  spur 
were  needed  to  stimulate  his  flagging  energies.  The 
cordial  given  him  seemed  to  have  acted  as  a  strong 
fillip,  and  in  a  minute  he  was  sitting  up,  pushing  aside 
an  arm  which  endeavoured  to  hold  him  down. 

"  Here,  what's  this?"  he  asked  indignantly.  "  I'm  not 
a  baby !  I— halloo !  Where  am  I  ?" 


96  Indian  and  Scout 

"Still  in  the  train,  recovering  from  the  wound  you 
received,"  said  the  same  gentle  voice.  "  Now  lie  down 
again." 

But  Jack  was  stubborn,  and  had  a  horror  of  illness  or 
of  any  show  of  weakness.  He  let  his  legs  slide  from  the 
long  seat  on  which  he  had  been  lying,  and  sat  bolt  up- 
right. He  looked  round  in  a  dazed  fashion,  and  then 
gave  a  cry  of  recognition. 

"Ah,  the  train!"  he  said.  "Guess  this  is  where  that 
robber  lay.  What  happened?" 

"  A  heap,"  said  someone  standing  near  at  hand,  and, 
looking  at  him,  our  hero  discovered  the  man  who  had 
stood  with  folded  arms  whilst  the  robber's  revolver  was 
pointed  at  him.  "Jest  a  heap,  young  sir.  But  there 
ain't  no  further  call  to  fear  the  robber.  Guess  he's 
rubbed  out  clean." 

He  pointed  to  the  far  end  of  the  coach,  where,  under 
a  piece  of  sailcloth,  rested  something  which  had  the  form 
of  a  body.  Jack  shuddered  and  turned  away. 

"  And  no  need  to  blame  yourself  neither,"  came  from 
the  man.  "It  was  done  in  fair  fight,  and  thar  warn't 
no  favour.  'Sides,  he  managed  to  wing  you.  How's  the 
arm?" 

"  I  had  forgotten  it,"  answered  Jack,  looking  down  and 
discovering  that  his  arm  rested  in  a  sling  made  from  a 
scarf.  "  It  hurts  just  a  little,  but  nothing  to  what  it  did 
at  first.  Is  the  wound  severe?" 

"  Enough  to  cripple  yer  for  a  time,  I  guess,  but  not  so 
baddish.  A  young  chap  like  you'll  be  able  to  swing  the 
arm  within  three  weeks,  and  work  with  it  in  six.  The 
bullet  jest  went  a  bit  high.  Or  low,  was  it,  seeing  as  you 
was  kinder  upside  down?  It  clipped  the  bone,  I  reckon, 


Friends  and  Hunters  97 

but  thar  ain't  a  break.  Ye'll  do  nicely.  Now,  if  yer 
feel  up  to  it,  jest  tell  us  how  it  all  happened." 

Jack  felt  wonderfully  better  already,  though  a  little 
bashful,  for  the  coach  was  half-filled  with  passengers,  all 
of  whom  were  looking  at  him  and  listening  eagerly.  He 
stared  back  at  them  for  a  time,  for  the  men  here  were  in 
many  cases  of  a  different  class  to  those  he  was  accus- 
tomed to.  They  were  sunburned,  with  but  a  few  excep- 
tions, and  these  latter  were  obviously  commercial  men, 
travelling  for  some  trade.  The  others  looked  more  like 
settlers,  or  cowboys,  or  even  miners.  They  wore  rough, 
highly  coloured  shirts,  broad  belts,  and  riding-boots  and 
breeches.  Each  one  carried  a  revolver,  and  some  a 
hunting-knife. 

"Kinder  surprised  at  the  look  of  us,  eh?"  smiled  the 
tall  man  with  the  big  moustaches.  "  Wall,  we're  ordinary 
enough  out  this  way.  Yer  don't  get  folks  out  in  this 
part  dressin'  as  if  they  was  in  New  York,  not  much. 
We're  ranchers,  or  miners,  almost  to  a  man.  Now  fer 
that  'ere  yarn." 

Very  quietly  and  modestly  Jack  told  how  he  had 
boarded  the  train,  and  recounted  his  subsequent  actions. 

"  Reckon  it  was  the  only  thing  I  could  do,"  he  wound 
up  lamely.  "  They'd  have  shot  me  as  well  as  anyone  else." 

"  I  dunno,"  came  hotly  from  one  of  the  passengers. 
"  I  dunno  so  much.  Excuse  me,  young  stranger,  but 
I'll  ax  a  question.  Yer  was  right  aft  thar,  close  to  the 
truck,  warn't  you?  And  yer  could  have  boarded  that 
as  easy  as  possible?  Eh?" 

Jack  nodded,  colouring  visibly,  for  he  began  to  wonder 
whether  he  would  have  to  declare  to  all  present  that  that 
was  actually  his  intention. 

(0179)  7 


98  Indian  and  Scout 

"  Then  them  skunks  wouldn't  have  found  you.  They 
was  huntin'  for  the  car  what  carries  the  gold.  Yer 
hadn't  no  call  to  enter  the  conductor's  crib,  none  at  all, 
siree,  and  yet  yer  did.  Yer  cut  him  loose,  and  then 
come  along  the  footboard.  There  war  something  else 
you  could  ha'  done.  Yer  could  ha'  layed  there  snug, 
and  not  cared  a  jot.  Reckon  ye've  saved  a  pile  for  the 
owners  of  that  'ere  money." 

There  was  a  loud  chorus  of  approval,  and  immediately 
afterwards  the  tall  man  with  the  fine  moustaches  stepped 
forward. 

"  That  isn't  all,"  he  said  slowly.  "  Ladies  and  gentle- 
men, many  of  you  know  me.  I'm  Tom  Horsfall,  from 
down  Colorado  way,  and  I've  made  this  trip  many  a 
time,  and  scores  of  others.  I've  been  through  the  Indian 
country,  and  have  seen  fighting.  Then  every  mother's 
son  of  us  has  used  his  gun  to  save  the  outfit  we've  been 
along  with,  and  to  keep  our  own  scalps.  Reckon  we 
hadn't  a  show  here.  Those  varmint  were  on  to  us  too 
quick,  and  a  man  has  to  weaken  sometimes  when  he 
hasn't  had  time  to  lift  his  gun.  This  young  stranger 
didn't  save  the  gold  alone.  Guess  he  saved  a  goodish 
few  of  us." 

Once  more  there  was  a  chorus  of  approval. 

"Ye've  put  it  neat  and  handy,  Tom,"  sang  out  the 
one  who  had  spoken  earlier.  "  He's  saved  lives  as  well 
as  money." 

"And  as  a  mark  of  our  appreciation  the  passengers 
on  the  train,  as  well  as  the  staff,  have  made  a  collection. 
I  have  much  pleasure  in  handing  you  three  hundred 
dollars." 

The  big  man  smiled — a  comprehensive  smile,  which 


Friends  and  Hunters  99 

took  in  all  the  company  present,  and  Jack  in  particular. 
He  stepped  up  to  our  hero,  and  handed  him  a  skin 
purse  which  was  heavy  with  dollars. 

"  Ye've  earned  it  fair  and  handsome,"  he  said.  "  Take 
it,  my  lad." 

To  say  that  Jack  was  delighted  and  somewhat  over- 
come would  be  to  describe  his  condition  incorrectly. 
Tears  were  in  his  eyes  as  he  took  the  money,  and  he 
attempted  vainly  to  return  thanks.  But  the  big  man 
helped  him  out. 

"Yer  ain't  no  call  to  say  a  word,"  he  said  kindly. 
"  We  all  understand,  and  we  don't  want  thanks.  Now, 
stranger,  jest  yer  lie  down  again  and  sleep.  We'll  talk 
later  on." 

"  But  the  conductor?"  asked  Jack,  suddenly  remem- 
bering the  man  he  had  released,  and  who  had  fallen 
from  the  train. 

"  He's  jest  as  comfortable  as  may  be,"  came  the 
reassuring  answer.  "  The  bullet  that  ruffian  fired  went 
slick  through  his  wrist  and  made  him  let  go.  He's  a 
bit  shook,  and  no  wonder;  but  thar  ain't  anything 
worse  with  him  than  a  hole  in  his  wrist,  and  that'll 
mend  as  soon  as  your  wound.  Now,  git  down  and 
rest." 

The  order  was  peremptory  now,  and  Jack  obeyed 
it.  A  delicious  sense  of  comfort  and  security  came 
over  him,  and,  better  than  all,  the  feeling  that  he  had 
friends.  A  while  ago  he  was  a  hunted  criminal,  with 
none  to  look  to  for  help.  Now,  in  the  pocket  of  his 
jacket,  he  had  solid  evidence  of  good  friendship;  for 
the  dollars  chinked  loudly  when  he  moved,  while  all 
who  looked  at  him  smiled  or  patted  his  hand,  Mean- 


ioo  Indian  and  Scout 

while  the  train  was  proceeding,  and  when  in  the  course 
of  seven  hours  Jack  awoke,  he  found  houses  about  him, 
and  lights  flickering  through  the  morning  mist.  The 
passengers  were  descending  from  the  cars,  gripping  their 
luggage,  and  everything  pointed  to  the  fact  that  the  end 
of  the  journey  was  reached. 

"The  rails  don't  go  any  farther,"  said  Tom  Horsfall, 
coming  and  sitting  beside  him.  "  From  here  those  who 
live  farther  afield  have  to  go  by  caravan,  and  there  they 
are,  hurrying  away,  as  if  they  hadn't  a  moment  to  lose. 
Where  are  you  going,  lad?" 

Jack  sat  up  suddenly  and  looked  at  his  questioner. 
From  the  very  first  he  had  taken  a  liking  to  Tom, 
and  knew  intuitively  that  he  was  one  who  could  be 
trusted.  Still,  he  reflected,  he  must  not  say  too  much. 
The  constable  might  even  now  be  following." 

"  To  California,"  he  answered  steadily. 

"  To  dig?" 

Jack  nodded  his  head.  "  Partly  that,  partly  to  earn 
money  at  the  forge.  I've  done  a  course  of  smith's  work, 
and  am  fairly  handy." 

An  exclamation  of  pleasure  escaped  Tom  promptly. 

"Do  yer  wan't  a  job?"  he  asked  swiftly.  "'Cos  I've 
one  ter  offer." 

To  do  Jack  full  justice,  he  hesitated  to  accept  the 
post,  and  felt  troubled.  For  common  sense  told  him 
that  the  place  was  offered  because  of  what  he  had 
done.  It  was,  in  a  measure,  a  reward  for  his  services. 
But  there  was  another  aspect  of  the  matter.  When 
he  had  accepted  Amos's  offer  it  was  at  a  moment 
when  he  was  sorely  pressed,  and  when,  because  of  his 
haste,  he  had  little  time  to  consider  other  matters.  But 


Friends  and  Huiriters !  -I  \  '• !  i  /  ' 

Jack  was  honest  to  the  core,  and  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  work  for  himself  at  his  trade  rather  than  to 
accept  a  post  and  leave  his  employer  ignorant  of  his 
past  history.  And  here  he  was  face  to  face  with  the 
dilemma.  He  must  either  refuse  what  might  turn  out 
to  be  just  the  thing  for  him,  or  he  must  declare 
himself  and  hold  nothing  back. 

"  Yer  ain't  got  no  cause  to  fret  about  the  arm," 
said  Tom,  noticing  his  hesitation,  "'cos  we've  a  long 
march  before  us.  It'll  be  three  months  before  we  reach 
Nevada,  and  another  before  we  hit  upon  a  spot  at  which 
ter  dig.  Long  before  then  ye'll  be  fit  again,  and  it's 
when  we're  at  the  diggin's  that  ye'll  come  in  handy. 
We've  been  lookin'  out  fer  a  smith,  and,  yer  see,  we're 
off  to  Californy  like  you,  so  the  thing  seems  kinder 
ter  fit." 

"  It  isn't  that,"  exclaimed  Jack  quickly.  "  I  want  to 
say  something.  You  don't  know  anything  about  me. 
I  might  be  anything  at  all." 

"Now,  look  ye  here,"  cried  Tom  hotly,  "don't  yer 
jest  take  me  fer  a  fool.  No  one  out  here  knows 
what  his  mates  are,  nor  cares  either.  'Tain't  no  busi- 
ness of  no  one's.  Reckon  out  thar  at  the  diggin's 
and  on  the  plains  yer  kin  meet  men  as  was  dukes  in 
Europe,  others  that's  thieves,  and  crowds  that  has  as 
shady  a  history  as  yer  could  well  think  of.  That 
ain't  no  one's  concern.  But  you! — with  that  honest 
face  and  frank  look — don't  yer  try  ter  get  telling  me 
that  you've  got  a  history  marked  up  against  yer. 
Yer  may  have  met  trouble,  but  I  reckon  it  come  from 
someone  else's  fault;  or  it  was  a  monkey  trick  that 
any  lad'll  get  up  to.  Don't  tell  me.  I've  been  out 


Indian  and  Scout 

these  ways  boy  and  man,  and  I  ain't  easily  took 
in." 

"  Listen  a  moment,"  said  Jack  quietly.  "  I  am  an 
escaped  prisoner,  under  trial  quite  recently  for  burglary, 
and  under  suspicion  of  having  killed  a  man." 

If  our  hero  expected  Tom  to  give  vent  to  a  whistle  of 
astonishment,  and  to  make  some  sort  of  demonstration, 
he  was  disappointed.  Tom  sat  down  coolly,  pulled  out  a 
cigar,  and  bit  the  end  off. 

"Jest  you  fire  ahead  with  the  yarn,  young  'un,"  he 
said,  between  the  puffs,  as  he  held  a  match  to  the 
weed.  "  Tell  me  jest  as  much  as  yer  like,  and  jest 
as  little.  I  ain't  no  policeman,  I'm  a  plain  man;  and 
where  I've  worked,  though  thar's  been  a  sheriff,  he's 
mostly  lived  a  hundred  or  more  miles  away.  Conse- 
quence is,  we've  jedged  matters  fer  ourselves.  Reckon 
we  don't  make  many  mistakes,  neither.  If  a  man's  a 
horse  thief  or  a  train  robber,  or  something  of  that  sort, 
he  has  a  fair  show  to  clear  himself.  Ef  he  can't,  he's 
shot.  What's  the  row  been  about?" 

Jack  told  him  frankly  what  his  trouble  was,  and  how 
he  had  fled  from  the  prison.  Then  he  described  his 
work  with  Amos,  and  finally  his  dash  for  the  train. 
Tom  listened  coolly,  taking  deep  pulls  at  his  weed,  and 
filling  the  carriage  with  smoke.  Not  an  observation 
escaped  him.  But  his  brows  were  wrinkled,  and  his 
eyes  almost  closed,  seeming  to  point  to  the  fact  that 
he  was  thinking  deeply.  He  rose  and  went  to  the 
window  to  toss  the  ash  from  his  weed,  and  sauntered 
back  again. 

"Do  yer  smoke,  young  'un?"  he  asked  curtly  but  not 
unkindly.  Then,  as  Jack  shook  his  head,  he  went  on. 


Friends  and  Hunters  103 

"  Ah,  more's  the  pity  jest  now,  for  a  smoke  kinder  helps 
a  man.  He  gets  something  between  his  teeth,  and 
grips  tight  at  it.  Ef  he's  got  a  plaguey  business  on 
hand,  somehow  or  other  the  thing  between  his  teeth, 
and  the  smoke  bubbling  up  into  the  air,  lets  him  get 
down  to  the  bottom  of  that  'ere  business.  Jest  tell  me. 
Could  you  recognize  that  'ere  chap  as  came  to  the  forge 
for  the  key?" 

"  Anywhere!"  exclaimed  Jack  emphatically. 

"  Then  yer  ain't  no  cause  ter  worry.  And  I'll  tell  yer 
why.  All  the  train  robbers  and  sich  like  that  works  out 
east  has  to  make  tracks  sooner  or  later.  Things  gets 
too  hot  for  'em,  and  they  have  to  move  or  be  nabbed. 
Wall,  this  here  fellow  has  made  things  hot.  A  murder's 
a  murder,  and  it  don't  help  matters  even  if  the  papers 
tell  him  that  someone  else  is  standing  his  trial  for  the 
crime.  The  truth  will  out  some  day,  and  that  some  day 
may  be  sooner  rather  than  later;  so  the  chap  clears 
from  the  east.  And  whar  does  he  make  for?" 

Tom  looked  steadily  at  Jack,  and,  seeing  that  he 
shook  his  head,  went  on  promptly.  "  I'll  tell  yer.  He 
goes  slick  west,  to  the  diggin's,  whar  thar's  miners  to 
swindle,  and  gold  trains  ter  hold  up.  That's  whar  the 
ruffians  get  to;  and  seeing  that  that's  the  case,  ye're 
like  ter  meet  this  fellow  out  Californy  way  sooner  than 
in  New  York  direction.  That's  a  good  solid  reason  for 
yer  to  come  west  yerself,  and  though  yer  may  have 
thought,  and  rightly  too,  to  throw  off  pursuit  quicker 
in  that  direction,  ye've  chosen  at  the  same  time  the 
one  place  in  all  the  world  whar  you're  likely  ter  get 
evidence  that'll  clear  yer.  Do  I  believe  you  did 
it?" 


104  Indian  and  Scout 

Tom  looked  at  Jack  as  he  asked  the  question,  and 
then  burst  into  a  loud  guffaw. 

"Shucks!"  he  cried;  "  thar  ain't  no  sense  in  the 
noddles  of  them  stay-at-homes.  Anyone  could  see  with 
half  an  eye  that  sarcumstances  was  dead  against  yer, 
and  that  before  jedgment  was  given,  your  age,  your 
past  life,  everything  should  be  taken  into  consideration. 
But  that  jedge  and  jury  seemed  ter  have  made  up  their 
minds,  without  even  setting  to  work  to  learn  if  other 
men  had  been  handy,  if  a  cart  had  been  hired,  or  other 
burglaries  committed  in  them  parts  by  two  men. 
Reckon  that  friend  of  yours  you  call  James  did  well 
ter  advise  yer  ter  skip.  Once  ye'd  put  your  nose  into 
a  prison,  ye'd  have  been  done.  Ye'd  never  have 
cleared  yourself.  Now  ye've  a  goodish  chance,  and 
I'll  help  yer.  That  job's  still  open,  youngster.  And, 
by  the  way,  what's  the  name?" 

"Jack  Kingsley.  Tom  Starling  when  I  boarded  the 
train." 

"Then  Jack  let  it  be.  Thar  ain't  no  call  ter  have 
a  second  name.  One's  good  enough,  and  heaps.  Will 
yer  come?" 

"  Rather !  and  ever  so  many  thanks  for  helping  me," 
cried  Jack,  his  lip  a  trifle  tremulous,  for  such  kindness 
moved  him. 

"I  ain't  done  nothing,"  came  the  prompt  answer, 
"nothing  compared  with  what  you've  managed  fer  me. 
Reckon  that  rascal  near  let  lead  into  me.  Jest  remem- 
ber this,  lad.  Ye're  as  good  as  any  hereabouts,  and 
no  call  to  hang  your  head.  And  thar  ain't  no  fear 
of  arrest.  Thar  ain't  a  soul  as'll  know  yer,  save  the 
villain  that  did  that  burglary  and  left  yer  to  face  the 


Friends  and  Hunters  105 

trial.  Ef  yer  meet  him  ye'll  have  ter  act,  and  afore 
yer  get  to  the  diggin's  ye'll  have  learned  how.  Now 
jest  a  word  about  myself.  I've  been  everything — cow- 
boy, rancher  with  my  own  ranch,  storekeeper,  and 
miner.  I  ain't  no  wife  nor  chicks,  and  so  a  wandering 
life  suits  me.  And  I've  been  lucky.  Two  years  ago 
come  Christmas  time  I  struck  it  rich  and  plenty  way 
west  in  Californy,  and  me  and  my  mate  cleared  out 
with  a  handsome  banking  account.  We  agreed  to 
separate  till  this  time,  and  then  ter  go  partners  again 
ef  both  of  us  wished  ter  have  another  turn.  Wall,  we're 
both  for  the  diggin's  again,  and  we're  going  to  do  it  big 
this  time.  We've  each  put  three  thousand  dollars  into 
the  thing,  and  I've  with  me  on  the  train  an  outfit  that'll 
wash  gold  of  itself.  It'll  want  a  bit  of  fixin',  and  now 
and  again  a  little  repair,  without  a  doubt.  A  smith's 
the  man  for  that,  and  so  you're  jest  rightly  fitted. 
Yer  ain't  got  no  tools,  perhaps?" 

"  None,"  Jack  admitted,  and  then  with  a  smile,  "  you 
see,  I  left  so  hurriedly.  There  wasn't  time  to  bring 
much  away,  and  an  anvil  is  rather  heavy." 

"And  perlicemen  have  a  way  of  skipping  along 
precious  quick,"  laughed  Tom.  "But  we'll  fix  the 
whole  matter.  My  mate  meets  me  here  at  the  rail 
head,  and  we  buy  a  wagon  and  some  mules  or  hosses. 
Then  we  set  off  across  the  plains,  choosing  some  convoy 
to  go  with,  ef  that's  possible.  Ef  not,  we'll  have  to  risk 
the  Indians.  In  any  case  we  shall  have  a  long  trail 
before  us,  and  ef  you're  fond  of  shootin'  and  huntin' 
thar'll  be  heaps  of  both  for  yer.  Why,  ef  that  ain't 
Steve!" 

A  short,  spare  man  entered  the  car  at  this  moment, 


io6  Indian  and  Scout 

and  stepped  lightly  towards  Tom.  There  was  the 
merest  smile  of  recognition  on  his  face,  while  the  eyes 
lit  up  for  a  moment.  They  gripped  hands  for  an  in- 
stant, and  then  Steve  crossed  to  the  window,  and  looked 
out  sharply,  craning  his  head  so  as  to  see  in  either  direc- 
tion. Tom  laughed  heartily. 

"  Steve's  the  silentest  man  I  ever  chummed  with,"  he 
said.  "And  he  can't  get  that  ere  backwoods  trick 
out  of  his  mind.  Don't  matter  where  he  is,  he's  lookin' 
round,  p'raps  for  enemies,  p'raps  for  somethin'  ter  eat. 
Lookin'  round's  become  a  sorter  habit  with  him. 
Howdy,  Steve?"  he  shouted  out.  "Jest  come  and  larn 
to  know  our  new  hand.  This  here's  Jack,  smith  to 
our  outfit." 

The  little  man  strode  from  the  window,  faced  Jack 
openly,  and  gripped  his  hand  till  our  hero  could  have 
shouted.  He  liked  the  look  of  Steve.  He  was  the 
very  image  of  those  hunters  and  scouts  he  had  so  often 
read  about;  the  silent,  lean  hunter  who  went  his  way 
into  the  wilderness,  and  whose  every  hour  called  for 
courage  and  determination. 

"  Howdy,  stranger?"  said  Steve.     "  Kin  yer  shoot?" 

"  None,"  answered  Jack  promptly. 

"Nor  ride?" 

"  A  very  little." 

"Then  ye'll  do.  Most  every  tenderfoot  that  comes 
this  way  is  clean  off  the  finest  shot  and  the  best  ter 
sit  a  horse  that  was  ever  seen.  They  git  to  teachin' 
the  old  hands.  Ef  yer  ain't  used  to  neither,  reckon 
ye'll  shape  mighty  soon.  I  ain't  one  who  holds  with 
side.  Deeds  is  worth  a  hull  wagon  load  of  boastin'." 

"And  words  ain't  much  in  your  line,"  laughed  Tom. 


Friends  and  Hunters  107 

"  I  never  heard  Steve  make  a  longer  speech.  He's 
took  well  to  yer,  Jack.  Now  then,  listen  here,  mate. 
This  Jack's  begun  his  shootin'  already.  We  got  held 
up  back  thar  down  the  line,  and  he  cleared  us  proper. 
Jest  cast  yer  eye  up  there  at  the  roof." 

Steve  strode  beneath  the  lantern,  and  rapidly  sur- 
veyed the  punctures  which  the  robber's  bullets  had 
made.  In  a  flash  his  eye  took  in  the  general  disorder, 
the  broken  window,  the  stained  carpet,  and  the  long 
form  lying  beneath  the  sailcloth. 

"It  war  warm  while  it  lasted,"  he  said,  returning. 
"Whar  was  you?" 

Jack  pointed  aloft.  "On  the  roof,"  he  said  quietly. 
"  He'd  have  had  me  there  I  expect.  So  I  held  on  to 
a  smokestack,  and  shot  him  through  the  window." 

Steve  strode  to  the  side  of  the  car,  and  once  more 
surveyed  the  surroundings.  He  leaped  to  the  ground, 
and  they  saw  him  clambering  along  the  footboard. 
Then  he  returned  as  suddenly  as  he  had  gone. 

"  Ever  pulled  a  trigger  afore?"  he  asked  bluntly. 

"  Never." 

"  And  yer  was  upside  down,  so  ter  speak?" 

"  That's  so,"  admitted  Jack. 

"  I'm  glad  ye're  comin'." 

Steve  was  a  character.  He  was  as  taciturn  and  as 
silent  as  a  man  might  well  be.  But  honest  to  the  core. 
A  stanch  friend,  a  bitter  enemy,  for  his  had  been  a 
rough  life;  and  a  man  so  sharp  that  nothing  escaped 
him.  His  last  words  were  high  commendation  indeed, 
and  Jack,  realizing  that,  reddened. 

"  We'll  be  startin'  right  away,"  said  Steve,  addressing 
Tom.  "A  town  ain't  no  fit  place  fer  a  scout.  One 


io8  Indian  and  Scout 

can't  kinder  breathe,  with  all  the  smoke  and  the  houses. 
I've  palled  with  six  boys  as  is  goin'  west." 

The  news  was  excellent,  especially  when  Tom  had 
persuaded  his  partner  to  be  a  little  more  explicit.  The 
boys  turned  out  to  be  old  hunter  friends  of  Steve's, 
accustomed  to  the  plains,  and  their  addition  to  the 
party  would  make  it  possible  for  Tom  and  Steve  and 
Jack  to  push  on  promptly,  and  not  wait  for  a  larger 
party.  For  in  those  days  the  wide  tracts  of  plain 
separating  the  east  from  California  were  infested  by 
cut-throat  Indians,  and  many  was  the  massacre  for 
which  they  were  responsible.  Indeed,  hundreds  of  un- 
fortunate men  and  women,  making  their  way  across 
to  the  goldfields,  fell  foul  of  these  red  demons,  and 
were  slaughtered  and  scalped  unmercifully. 

"  Then  to-morrow  we'll  move,"  said  Tom.  "  It  won't 
take  more'n  two  hours  ter  buy  up  an  anvil  and  sich 
like  things.  Hosses  ain't  no  difficulty.  Thar's  always 
plenty  of  'em.  Now,  Jack,  let's  be  movin'.  Ye'll 
come  right  along  with  us  to  the  camp,  and  start  in 
as  our  man  from  this  moment." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Out  on  the   Prairie 

SHOULDERING  their  baggage,  Tom  and  Steve  led  the 
way  from  the  station,  and,  having  traversed  some  few 
hundred  yards,  came  to  a  single  wagon,  halted  by  the 
roadside.  It  was  a  large  affair,  covered  with  a  big 
canvas  tilt,  and  mounted  on  four  strong  wheels.  A 
single  shaft  protruded  in  front,  to  which  the  wheelers 
of  the  team  of  horses  could  be  attached.  In  fact,  be- 
yond a  few  minor  particulars  which  followed  the  custom 
in  vogue  in  this  part  of  America,  the  wagon  was  very 
similar  to  those  huge  conveyances,  sometimes  called 
the  "  ships  of  the  velt",  which  are  to  be  found  in  South 
Africa. 

"  A  tidy  weight  it  is,  too,"  said  Tom,  as  Jack  remarked 
on  the  wagon  when  approaching.  "But  it's  jest  the 
thing  for  the  plains.  Yer  see,  ter  do  any  good  way  over 
in  Californy  a  man  wants  a  heap  of  tools  and  sich  like. 
Wall,  they're  to  be  had  from  San  Francisco,  or  Sacra- 
mento; but,  gee!  ain't  the  prices  tall!  It  pays  hand- 
some ter  buy  a  wagon  back  here  and  fill  it  with  stuff. 
That's  what  we're  doin'.  Me  and  Steve's  put  a  sight 
of  earnin's  and  savin's  into  the  matter,  and  we'll  have 
ter  strike  it  rich  way  over  thar  to  git  the  money  back. 
Thar's  something  else.  Ef  bad  weather  comes  on,  we 

109 


no  Indian  and  Scout 

kin  shelter  of  a  night  under  the  tilt — leastwise,  we  kin 
at  first.  After  a  bit  thar  won't  be  the  chance.  Them 
skunks  of  Indians  '11  make  us  look  out  fer  trouble,  and 
any  man  as  has  a  care  fer  the  haar  on  his  head  don't 
get  sleepin'  too  heavy  once  he's  come  into  their  country. 
Guess  them's  our  mates.  Scouts  Steve  called  'em." 

By  now  they  were  close  to  the  wagon,  and  Jack 
noticed  that  quite  a  little  camp  had  been  formed  round 
it.  At  a  little  distance  some  ten  horses  were  grazing, 
while  one  man  mounted  guard  over  them.  Close  at 
hand  a  dozen  more  were  tethered  to  pegs,  and  nibbled 
the  grass  in  a  circle  round  their  pegs.  A  fire  was  burn- 
ing just  outside  the  wagon,  and  over  it  a  pot  was  sus- 
pended on  an  iron  tripod.  Steve  gave  a  shout,  and 
promptly  five  men,  who  were  seated  near  the  fire,  rose 
and  lounged  forward. 

"Gee,  now!  Ef  that  ain't  Seth,  Tricky  Seth,  as  we 
called  him,"  shouted  out  Tom,  waving  his  hat  above  his 
head.  "  Howdy,  Seth?  Didn't  know  yer  was  this  way. 
When  last  I  set  eyes  on  yer  it  was  way  down  in  New 
Mexico.  What's  brought  yer  here?" 

A  short,  heavily  built  man  stepped  forward  from 
amongst  his  comrades.  He  was  so  tanned  by  wind  and 
exposure  that  one  might  have  been  excused  the  mistake 
if  one  had  taken  him  for  an  Indian.  His  eyes  were  a 
steely  grey,  his  chin  and  upper  lip  covered  with  thick, 
bushy  hair,  while  the  backs  of  his  hands,  and  his  arms, 
which  were  exposed  to  the  elbows,  were  also  thickly  clad 
with  the  same  material.  He  wore  a  wide-brimmed  hat, 
which  decidedly  had  seen  better  days,  a  shirt  which  had 
once  been  red,  but  which  frequent  washings  and  much 
exposure  to  a  hot  sun  had  bleached  to  a  mottled  brown, 


Out  on  the  Prairie  m 

while  his  nether  limbs  were  clad  in  cowboy  overalls 
fringed  with  leather  tassels.  A  picturesque  fellow  he 
looked,  and  something  more.  His  keen  eyes,  the  reso- 
lute set  of  his  features,  hardly  needed  the  addition  of 
the  huge  belt  he  wore,  in  which  reposed  a  big  Colt,  to 
tell  a  stranger  that  Seth — "Tricky  Seth",  as  Tom  had 
called  him — was  something  more  than  picturesque.  He 
came  forward  with  sparkling  eyes  and  with  hand  out- 
stretched. 

"  Why,  so  it  war,"  he  cried,  speaking  with  a  very  pro- 
nounced twang;  "so  it  war.  And  I  jest  reckon  I  was 
as  s'prised  as  you  to  find  myself  up  this  way.  But  New 
Mexico's  that  full  of  horse  thieves  and  Injun  skunks 
that  an  honest  man  can't  live.  Fact  is,  I  got  into  a 
muss  with  a  gang  of  robbers.  I  come  up  against  'em 
accidental  at  first,  and  that  got  their  danders  up  agin 
me.  They  was  fer  shootin'  right  off  whenever  they  seed 
me." 

"  And  that  ain't  healthy  fer  any  man,"  burst  in  Tom, 
"  though  I  guess  as  Seth  ain't  easy  ter  frighten." 

"  Not  as  a  general  thing ;  but  this  here  case  were 
special.  I  stood  it  fer  a  while,  yer  bet,  and  by  keepin' 
out  in  the  plains  and  mountains,  trappin'  and  huntin" 
managed  ter  hold  'em  clear  fer  a  bit.  But  it  got  precious 
onreasonable  ter  have  bullets  flyin'  whenever  I  went  into 
town  ter  sell  the  skins  I'd  been  collectin'.  What  with 
one  meetin'  and  another  I  got  a  matter  of  three  holes 
drilled  through  me,  and  that  warn't  pleasant.  I  give 
'em  snufif  in  return,  I  jest  did,  but  that  don't  help  ter 
mend  holes  in  a  fellow's  carcass.  So  I  corned  away. 
Then  I  struck  along  o'  Steve,  and  hearin'  yer  was  goin1 
partners,  and  was  off  to  Californy,  why,  me  and  my 


ii2  Indian  and  Scout 

mates  here  agreed  ter  go.  We  was  thinkin'  of  earning 
a  bit  by  acting  as  sort  of  escort  to  other  convoys  makin' 
across  to  the  diggin's.  But,  bless  yer,  the  crowds  that's 
goin'  don't  think  of  danger;  they  thinks  of  gold  only." 

"And  believes  they'll  find  it  in  handfuls,  the  poor 
fools,"  cried  Tom.  "Thar's  many  a  hundred  as  has 
lost  their  scalps  crossin'  the  plains," 

"And  many  more'll  meet  with  the  same,"  agreed 
Seth.  "  But  they  don't  reckon  to  meet  nothin'.  It's 
goin'  ter  be  a  picnic  all  the  way  across,  that's  what  they 
say  and  think,  and  so  they  don't  want  no  escort.  Me 
and  my  mates  fixed  then  that  we'd  try  a  little  diggin' 
ourselves,  and  as  yer  was  goin',  why,  it  seemed  jest  the 
chance  to  make  across  together.  Who's  the  stranger?" 

Tom  introduced  Jack  to  Seth  promptly,  and  then 
handed  him  over  to  the  latter,  who  made  him  acquainted 
with  his  comrades.  Nor  was  it  long  before  all  became 
familiar  with  the  story  of  his  behaviour  on  the  train. 

"  For  a  fust  shot  it  war  good,  precious  good,"  declared 
Seth.  "  I've  let  off  a  gun  in  most  positions,  but  never 
upside  down,  as  I  reckon  you  was.  So,  without  offence, 
youngster,  I  should  say  as  how  that  'ere  shot  weren't 
altogether  of  yer  own  doin'.  There  was  a  bit  of  flukin, 
in  it  Howsomever,  that  ain't  the  point.  Yer  had  the 
grit  to  lean  over  and  hold  fast  to  the  gun.  That's  whar 
you  came  in.  Yer  held  fast,  and  drew  trigger  jest  at 
the  right  moment.  Reckon  the  gun  did  the  rest.  And 
he  managed  to  wing  yer?" 

Jack  nodded.  "  He  put  a  ball  through  my  shoulder," 
he  said.  "  It  hurt  a  bit,  but  someone  seems  to  have 
bandaged  it,  and  it's  quite  easy  now." 

"Then  yer  ain't  no  cause  to  blush  and  'low  folks  to 


Out  on  the  Prairie  113 

say  as  you're  a  green  'un,"  laughed  Seth.  "  Reckon  a 
chap  as  has  had  daylight  put  through  him  has  seen 
something.  But  yer'll  have  to  set  to  at  shootin'.  My 
advice  is  to  buy  a  hull  heap  of  ammunition.  Me  and 
my  mates  most  always  jest  carry  a  dozen  rounds.  That's 
heaps  under  ordinary  sarcumstances ;  but  when  yer  get 
to  shootin'  with  a  revolver,  the  ammunition  melts  away, 
as  it  war.  And  a  man  ain't  nothin'  of  a  shot  till  he's 
fired  thousands  of  rounds.  So  buy  up  a  supply,  and  set 
to  in  earnest  when  we  gets  clear  of  the  town." 

Jack  made  a  mental  note  of  the  advice  given  him, 
and  decided  to  invest  some  of  his  savings  in  a  thoroughly 
good  revolver  and  gun  and  the  necessary  ammunition. 
Nor  had  he  any  reason  to  fear  the  expenditure,  for  he 
had  saved  a  good  deal  when  in  Amos's  employ,  and  had 
hardly  touched  the  money  he  had  brought  away  from 
Hopeville.  In  addition,  that  same  evening,  when  Tom 
and  his  friends  were  making  their  final  preparations  for 
leaving  camp  at  an  early  hour  on  the  following  day,  two 
officials  of  the  bank  to  which  the  money  on  board  the 
train  was  consigned  approached,  and  handed  our  hero 
no  less  than  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 

"  As  a  reward  for  saving  our  consignment,"  they  said. 
"  We  had  a  very  much  larger  sum  on  board  the  train 
than  was  supposed,  and  had  those  robbers  succeeded 
in  mastering  all  the  passengers,  and  in  stopping  the 
coaches,  our  loss  would  have  been  a  very  severe 
one." 

They  left  the  camp  within  a  few  minutes,  expressing 

the  hope  that  Jack  would  soon  recover  from  his  wound. 

But  that  young  fellow  was  almost  too  elated  to  recollect 

the  fact  that  his  shoulcier  was  damaged.     He  was  more 

(0179)  g 


H4  Indian  and  Scout 

than  delighted  at  the  gift,  and  at  once  fell  to  wondering 
what  he  would  do  with  such  riches. 

"  I  shall  return  James  and  Mother  the  sums  they  lent 
me,"  he  said,  "  and  for  the  rest  I  suppose  I'd  better  bank 
it.  I'll  ask  Tom." 

"  Yer  can  jest  do  one  o'  two  things,"  replied  the  latter, 
when  Jack  had  spoken  to  him.  "  Ef  yer  bank  it  here 
the  money'll  be  safe,  and  yer  can  arrange  to  have  a 
draft  on  a  bank  way  over  near  Sacramento.  Then,  once 
we  get  to  Californy,  and  yer've  had  time  to  look  round, 
yer  can  set  up  some  sort  of  business  for  yerself.  Buy 
a  plot  in  one  of  the  towns  that's  springing  up  like  mush- 
rooms, and  set  up  as  a  smith.  That'd  bring  in  dollars 
quick,  for  there  ain't  many  smiths  handy,  and  ironwork 
aer  well  paid.  Five  hundred  dollars  should  see  yer 
started,  with  the  rest  and  your  savings  while  working 
fer  us  safe  in  the  bank  in  case  of  illness  or  failure.  Not 
that  yer  want  ter  think  of  failure.  That  are  a  word  no 
young  man  should  allow  has  a  place  in  the  language. 
Seems  to  me  ef  a  youngster  jest  kind  of  pins  ( success ' 
up  in  front  of  him,  and  sets  to  to  gain  it  by  steady,  hard 
work,  he's  bound,  sooner  or  later — and  the  steadier  he  is 
the  sooner  it'll  be — to  find  he's  got  to  the  thing  he's 
aimed  at.  But  I  was  sayin'  there's  two  things  yer  could 
do  with  that  money.  I've  mentioned  one." 

"And  the  other?"  asked  Jack  eagerly. 

"The  other  aer  a  proposition  of  my  own — mine  and 
Steve's ;  and  mind  yer,  ef  it  don't  seem  right  and  likely 
to  you,  jest  refuse,  'cos  no  offence'll  be  given.  We've 
put  jest  three  thousand  dollars  apiece  into  this  scheme 
of  ours,  me  and  Steve  have,  and  a  goodish  part  of  the 
money  has  gone  to  buy  the  wagon  and  outfit  Still, 


Out  on  the  Prairie  115 

thar's  a  tidy  few  dollars  left,  and  that'll  be  workin' 
capital  for  when  we  reach  the  diggin's.  Wall,  now, 
more  workin'  capital  are  always  useful.  Yer  can  buy 
up  appliances  that'll  make  the  diggin'  and  windin'  easier, 
besides  employing  more  hands,  and  so  gettin'  down  to 
the  gold  quicker.  Ef  yer  like  the  proposition  yer  kin 
buy  a  share  in  this  consarn  of  ours,  and  come  in  as  a 
partner  instead  of  a  hired  man.  Yer'll  stand  to  lose 
along  with  us ;  but  ef  we  strike  it  rich,  why,  ye'll  gain, 
jest  as  we  shall,  in  proportion  to  the  amount  ye've  put 
into  the  partnership.  Now,  jest  yer  get  away  by  yerself 
fer  a  while,  or  talk  it  over  with  Seth  and  his  mates. 
They're  straight,  and  ef  the  consarn  ain't  worth  it,  or 
the  proposition  ain't  a  fair  one  to  you,  they'll  say  so 
for  sure.  Come  back  agin  in  an  hour's  time.  I'm 
goin'  into  the  town  jest  to  finish  a  little  buying." 

Jack  needed  very  little  time  for  consideration,  for  he 
had  already  practically  made  up  his  mind.  There  was 
something  transparently  honest  and  straightforward 
about  Tom  and  Steve,  and  he  felt  he  could  not  do 
better  than  throw  in  his  lot  with  them.  To  be  sure, 
if  their  efforts  to  discover  gold  were  not  successful,  he 
would  lose  all  the  money  he  subscribed.  But  then, 
they  might  meet  with  good  fortune. 

"  I'll  do  it,"  he  said  to  himself,  and  that,  too,  without 
discussing  the  matter  with  Seth  and  his  friends.  "  I'll 
send  along  the  money  I  borrowed  from  Mother  and 
James  Orring,  pay  a  thousand  dollars  to  this  partner- 
ship, and  bank  the  rest  against  a  rainy  day.  Who 
knows,  I  may  be  glad  to  have  the  use  of  it  later 
on." 

His  determination  to  become  a  partner  in  the  little 


n6  Indian  and  Scout 

firm  of  gold  diggers  delayed  the  departure  of  the  party 
for  a  few  hours. 

"Things  has  to  be  done  fair  and  square,"  said  Tom, 
when  Jack  announced  his  decision.  "We'll  get  into 
town,  as  soon  as  it's  light,  and  rouse  up  a  lawyer.  It'll 
take  him  an  hour  to  prepare  a  draft  same  as  Steve 
and  I  have.  Then  the  sherirT'11  have  to  sign  it,  and 
me  and  Steve  too.  When  the  document's  ready,  you'd 
best  hand  it  over  to  the  bank,  and  give  'em  instructions 
to  transfer  it  to  their  branch  at  Sacramento.  They'll 
send  it  via  New  York  and  Panama,  and  thar  ain't  a 
doubt  but  that  it'll  reach.  The  lawyer'll  make  a  second 
copy,  so  that  in  any  case  you'll  be  able  to  refer  to  the 
agreement  if  you  want  to." 

"  And  we'd  best  put  something  into  the  draft  that'll 
fix  it  right  ef  one  of  us  partners  wants  to  clear,"  ex- 
claimed Steve,  who,  though  a  silent  man  as  a  rule,  was 
not  backward  in  making  suggestions  when  his  expe- 
rience told  him  they  were  needed.  "Seems  to  me  it 
might  happen  as  one  of  us  would  want  to  leave  fer 
New  York  or  somewheares  else.  Wall,  his  money's  in 
the  firm,  but  he  don't  work  no  longer.  And,  sense  work 
aer  the  thing  that's  mainly  wanted,  why,  ef  he  leaves,  he 
ain't  no  longer  of  any  use." 

"  Agreed,"  cried  Tom  instantly.  "  I'm  ready  to  stand 
by  that" 

"And  I  also,"  added  Jack.  "We  might  put  in  a 
clause  giving  the  remaining  partners  the  right  to  buy 
up  the  share  of  the  one  leaving,  and  to  do  that  they 
might  sell  it  to  an  outsider  if  they  hadn't  the  money 
themselves." 

"Which'd  be  better  than  givin'  the  retirin'  partner 


Out  on  the  Prairie  117 

the  right  of  bringin'  in  someone  as  was  his  friend,  and 
who  mightn't  hit  it  off  with  t'others,"  said  Tom.  "  Now, 
that's  a  fair  and  square  proposal,  and  ef  we're  all  willin', 
why,  it  won't  take  more'n  a  few  minutes  longer  fer  the 
lawyer  feller  ter  stick  in  them  extry  clauses.  While  he's 
doin'  the  thing,  we'll  get  to  the  doctor's  and  have  thet 
shoulder  seen  to,  young  'un.  When  you  was  took  bad 
in  the  train,  and  lay  thar  as  if  you  was  dead,  this 
doctor  man  fixed  the  wound  nicely  for  you.  Lucky 
he  jest  happened  to  be  aboard.  Wall,  ter-morrer  he'll 
take  another  look,  and  we'll  get  him  to  fix  us  up 
with  bandages  and  sich  like.  Now  it's  time  to  be 
turning  in." 

Jack  Kingsley  lay  awake  for  some  time  on  this  his 
first  night  with  his  new  comrades.  His  surroundings 
were  so  entirely  different  from  those  he  was  accus- 
tomed to,  while  even  the  accent  and  the  language  of 
the  scouts  was  so  strange,  that  his  brain  was  too 
full  to  allow  of  sleep.  The  stamp  of  the  horses  out- 
side, and  the  gentle  whisper  of  the  breeze  as  it  blew 
against  the  canvas  tilt,  all  served  to  keep  him  awake. 
Then,  too,  his  wound  became  distinctly  painful,  while 
he  himself  felt  burning  hot  and  icy  cold  in  turns.  How- 
ever, at  length  he  fell  into  a  troubled  sleep  which  lasted 
till  the  early  morning. 

"  How  aer  yer?"  asked  Tom,  who  lay  in  a  bunk  on 
the  other  side  of  the  wagon.  "  Fit  as  ever,  youngster?" 

Jack  rose  from  his  blanket  couch  and  shook  himself. 
After  such  a  night  he  was  not  at  all  sure  whether  he 
did  feel  as  fit  as  he  should  do.  But  within  ten  minutes 
he  was  laughing  and  joking  merrily;  the  keen  morning 
air,  the  brilliant  light  of  the  rising  sun,  and  the  appe- 


ii8  Indian  and  Scout 

tizing  smell  wafted  from  the  steaming  kettle  all  serving 
to  rouse  his  spirits. 

"  Ye'll  do,  yer  will,"  cried  Tom  some  few  minutes 
later,  as  he  watched  our  hero.  "  Guess  yer  hadn't 
the  best  o'  nights.  I  sleeps  light  always,  'cos  where 
I've  lived  my  days  a  man  has  to  be  easy  waked,  and 
ready  at  a  moment  fer  action.  I  heard  yer  a-heavin' 
and  a-tossin'  in  yer  blankets,  and  I  reckoned  as  the 
shoulder  war  a  trifle  troublesome.  But  ye've  took  to 
yer  breakfast.  I  never  seed  a  fellow  eat  heartier.  Seems 
as  ef  the  air  hereabouts  agreed  with  yer." 

"  And  as  ef  bein'  shot  war  a  thing  as  give  him  an 
appetite,"  laughed  Steve.  "But  we'd  best  be  movin' 
slippy  into  the  town.  I  knows  these  lawyer  fellers. 
They're  all  jaw,  and  thar  ain't  no  makin'  them  hurry. 
Let's  skip  in  thar  right  now,  and  the  sooner  we  reach 
the  chap,  the  sooner  we'll  be  able  ter  git  altogether." 

Leaving  Seth  and  his  mates  to  clear  the  camp  and 
make  all  preparations  for  their  march,  Tom  and  Steve 
and  Jack  walked  briskly  into  the  town.  A  call  was 
made  at  once  on  a  lawyer,  and,  having  given  him  the 
necessary  particulars,  they  left  him  to  prepare  the  agree- 
ment which  would  make  Jack  a  partner  in  the  firm. 

"And  now  fer  an  outfit  fer  you,  youngster,"  said 
Tom.  "Ye're  wantin'  a  rifle  and  a  revolver.  Wall, 
ef  yer  go  to  a  proper  gunsmith,  he'll  fix  yer  up  with 
anythin',  but  it'll  cost  money.  Thar's  fellers  in  these 
towns  as  buy  weapons  from  hunters  who  aer  in  want 
of  money,  or  from  miners  returning  east.  They're  the 
men  to  go  to." 

He  led  the  way  past  the  better  part  of  the  town,  and 
dived  into  a  smaller  street  built  at  right  angles  to  the 


Out  on  the  Prairie  119 

one  they  had  just  left.  Then  he  stopped  at  a  little 
shop,  in  the  tiny  window  of  which  were  displayed  an 
assortment  of  articles. 

"Jest  leave  the  tradin'  to  me,"  he  said.  "Likely 
enough,  ef  yer  was  to  try  and  fix  the  deal,  the  fellow 
would  ask  double  his  price,  for  these  men  aer  wonder- 
ful cute  at  spottin'  newcomers.  Leave  it  ter  me;  I've 
bought  off  him  afore." 

Tom  indeed  made  an  excellent  bargainer,  for  within 
half  an  hour  Jack  found  himself  possessed  of  a  fine 
rifle,  and  a  revolver  which  appeared  never  to  have  been 
used.  Also,  Tom  bought  for  him  a  large  quantity  of 
ammunition. 

"  The  whole  dirt  cheap  at  a  hundred  dollars,"  he  said 
as  they  issued  from  the  shop.  "  Now,  all  we've  got 
ter  buy  is  an  anvil  and  sich  tools  as  ye'll  want,  'cos 
that'll  be  your  work  in  the  partnership,  besides  diggin'. 
In  a  firm  like  ours  each  of  the  partners'll  do  what  he 
kin,  and  as  much  as  he  kin,  to  get  things  going  and  to 
make  dollars.  Steve,  thar,  has  the  best  eye  fer  locatin' 
a  likely  corner  fer  gold  as  ever  I  came  upon.  But  he 
ain't  no  good  with  the  pick  and  spade;  he's  built  too 
light.  Last  time  we  was  partners,  'way  in  Californy, 
guess  me  an  a  hired  man  did  most  all  the  diggin'.  But 
Steve  did  more'n  his  equal  share  of  work  for  the  firm, 
'cos  it  was  he  who  went  nosin'  round  till  he  finally 
hit  upon  the  spot  that  panned  out  rich  and  gave  us 
gold  in  plenty.  Ha!  here's  the  general  stores.  They'll 
likely  enough  have  all  we  want." 

They  had,  in  fact,  no  difficulty  in  purchasing  all  the 
tools  Jack  was  likely  to  require,  and  arranged  with 
the  storekeeper  to  have  them  sent  to  their  camp  at 


120  Indian  and  Scout 

once.  An  anvil  of  moderate  size,  a  bag  of  fuel,  the 
necessary  tools,  and  a  small  portable  forge  were  bought; 
and,  that  done,  the  trio  returned  to  the  lawyer's. 

"  Ready,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  meeting  them  with  a 
smile.  "  I  know  how  impatient  you  scouts  and  miners 
are,  and  I  made  a  special  effort  to  press  on  with  the 
document.  It  is  here,  and  we  can  go  across  to  the 
sheriff  right  away.  There  the  document  can  be  duly 
signed  and  sealed,  the  money  can  be  paid  over,  and 
the  exchange  duly  witnessed." 

Within  an  hour  Jack  found  himself  a  member  of  the 
firm,  with  Tom  Horsfall  and  Steve  as  his  partners,  and, 
as  he  left  the  sheriff's  office,  could  not  refrain  from 
silently  contrasting  his  position  then  with  what  it  had 
been  a  few  weeks  formerly.  Then  everything  seemed 
to  be  against  him,  while  a  long  imprisonment  stared 
him  in  the  face.  But  two  days  ago  he  was  a  hunted 
criminal,  seeking  to  make  good  his  escape;  and  now — 
so  stimulating  was  the  effect  of  the  success  his  bold 
action  on  the  train  had  met  with,  and  the  few  kind 
words  with  which  he  had  been  greeted — he  feared  to 
face  no  man,  no,  not  even  Constable  Simpkins. 

"  I  feel  for  the  first  time  as  if  I  had  taken  a  step 
in  the  right  direction,"  he  said  to  himself,  "the  direc- 
tion which  will  lead  to  the  discovery  of  that  ruffian 
for  whom  I  have  suffered  so  much.  I  have  met  with 
a  stroke  of  amazing  fortune,  and  have  earned  enough 
money  to  give  me  a  start.  Well,  I'll  do  my  utmost 
to  turn  it  to  good  account.  I'll  slave  to  make  this 
partnership  a  success,  and  if  it  prove  to  be  that,  then 
I'll  use  what  money  I  gain  in  tracking  that  criminal. 
For  clear  my  name  from  this  slur  I  will,  even  if  it 


Out  on  the  Prairie  121 

costs  me  every  dollar  I  possess,  and  takes  years  and 
years  to  accomplish." 

A  visit  to  the  doctor  was  made  on  the  way  back  to 
camp,  and  having  had  his  shoulder  dressed,  and  careful 
instructions  given  for  the  future  care  of  the  wound,  Jack 
returned  to  the  camp  with  his  friends. 

"  We  didn't  rightly  know  when  you'd  be  returning," 
said  Seth,  "and  so  we  didn't  hook  in  the  beasts.  But 
everything  else  is  ready  packed,  and  in  ten  minutes  we'll 
be  movin'.  That  youngster  had  better  climb  into  the 
wagon.  It  won't  do  that  shoulder  of  his'n  any  good 
jolting  on  a  mustang." 

Let  the  reader  imagine  the  party  as  they  marched 
from  the  town.  In  front  of  the  wagon  rode  three  horse- 
men, such  horsemen  as  are  not  to  be  met  with  in  any 
other  country;  for  these  hunters  had  the  free-and-easy 
seat  which  comes  from  long  custom.  They  rode,  in  fact, 
like  others  in  different  countries  who  use  their  legs  so 
seldom  that  walking  is  a  labour,  and  who  climb  into 
a  saddle,  even  if  they  only  wish  to  pass  from  one  tent 
to  another.  A  fine  picture  Tom  and  Seth  and  Steve 
made  as  they  led  the  march.  After  them  came  the 
wagon,  its  team  blowing,  for  they  were  soft  after  a  long 
rest  and  plenty  of  feeding,  while  beside  the  beasts 
walked  a  negro,  wielding  a  long  whip,  which  cracked 
like  a  pistol  shot  when  he  flicked  it.  On  the  front  sat 
Jack,  radiantly  happy,  while  in  rear  rode  five  more  scouts, 
alert  and  watchful  even  here ;  for  such  is  the  force  of  habit. 

And  so  they  turned  their  faces  from  the  towns  and 
moved  off  into  the  plains — those  long  flats  of  country 
which  stretched,  with  a  break  here  and  there,  right  away 
to  the  mountains  of  Nevada. 


122  Indian  and  Scout 

"  And  by  the  time  we  reaches  'em  yer'll  be  a  scout 
same  as  we  are,"  said  Tom,  riding  his  horse  close  beside 
the  wagon.  "  As  soon  as  that  'ere  shoulder  aer  better 
yer'll  be  able  to  mount  and  ride  same  as  us,  and  then 
Steve'll  set  to  with  yer.  Thar  ain't  another  in  Americky 
like  him  to  larn  a  youngster  all  the  ways  o'  huntin',  and 
how  to  track  and  follow  a  trail.  Yer've  jest  to  sit  thar 
tight  and  get  well,  and  out  here  on  the  plains,  whar  the 
air's  pure,  a  fellow  mends  in  no  time." 

This  proved  to  be  the  case.  The  air  of  the  plains 
is  notoriously  healthy,  and  very  soon  Jack  was  able 
to  use  his  arm.  In  three  weeks  he  was  mounted,  and 
then  his  real  enjoyment  of  the  trip  began.  Long  before 
that  he  had  become  bosom  friends  with  his  mates,  and 
found  them  more  than  kindly.  Tom  alone  knew  his 
secret,  but  the  remainder  guessed  that  their  new  mate 
was  a  fugitive  from  justice. 

"  And  why?"  asked  one  of  them  with  a  laugh,  as  they 
sat  round  the  camp  fire  one  evening.  "'Cos  Jack  aer 
changed  his  colour.  When  he  corned  along  to  the  camp 
his  haar  war  as  black  as  a  coal.  Now  it's  carrots.  If 
that  don't  point  ter  something,  my  name  ain't  Jacob." 

There  was  a  hearty  laugh,  and  then  the  conversation 
was  turned;  for  in  those  parts  no  man  enquired  too 
closely  into  the  past  history  of  his  mates.  A  man  was 
judged  for  himself.  If  he  was  a  good  and  true  friend 
that  was  enough.  So  Jack  settled  down  amongst  them, 
and  quickly  answered  to  the  name  of  "  Carrots  ". 

As  to  his  companions  on  this  long  and  venturesome 
journey  across  the  plains  which  stretched  between  the 
point  of  their  departure  and  California,  they  were  with- 
out a  shadow  of  doubt  far  more  interesting  than  those 


Out  on  the  Prairie  123 

one  usually  met.  Already  the  group  of  hunters  had 
come  upon  parties  of  would-be  miners  journeying  to  the 
land  of  gold,  and  Jack  was  forced  to  confess — it  was 
brought  home  to  him  accidentally  as  it  were,  but  forcibly 
for  all  that — that  the  men  they  had  met  were  poor  speci- 
mens for  the  most  part.  Often  enough  the  bands  were 
composed  of  clerks  from  the  cities,  of  storekeepers  who 
had  lost  their  all  in  their  venture  at  trading,  and  some- 
times, mixed  up  with  these  men  of  the  towns,  who,  to  say 
the  best  of  them,  were  by  their  previous  lives  and  experi- 
ence wholly  unsuited  to  the  new  career  at  which  they 
aimed,  were  men  from  a  higher  sphere — dentists,  doctors, 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  even  an  actor  or  two.  Poorly  de- 
veloped for  the  most  part,  the  glaring  sun  beneath  which 
they  marched,  and  the  open-air  life  which  their  journey 
forced  them  to  lead,  had  given  them  a  colour  to  which 
many  no  doubt  had  been  strangers  before.  But  no  amount 
of  exposure  could  give  them  experience  of  the  plains — 
that  experience  which  could  be  learned  only  after  years 
of  travelling,  and  which  was  so  essential  to  them. 

"  It  makes  a  man  ache,  so  it  do,"  said  Seth,  after  they 
had  bade  farewell  to  one  of  these  bands,  which  was 
hopelessly  delayed  by  the  loss  of  their  draught  horses. 
"  Them  poor  critters  would  be  better  off  back  in  the 
towns  instead  of  coming  out  here.  In  course  they're 
delayed.  Chances  are  thar's  some  of  'em  never  had 
ter  do  with  a  hoss  till  now,  and  they  ain't  a  notion 
when  ter  feed  and  water  him,  when  ter  work  him  fer 
all  he's  worth,  and  when  ter  give  him  a  rest.  In  course 
out  here  a  hoss  mostly  feeds  hisself.  The  grass  is  that 
good  he'd  get  fat  ef  he  warn't  worked,  and  worked  hard 
too.  But  thar's  sech  a  thing  as  resting  the  critters  in 


124  Indian  and  Scout 

the  heat  of  the  day,  of  grooming  them  occasionally,  and 
of  giving  'em  a  feed  of  corn  when  thar's  a  settlement 
handy.  Them  men  we've  jest  left  ain't  no  more  notion 
of  a  hoss  than  they  have  of  an  Injun,  and  the  wust  of  it 
are  fer  them  that  in  the  fust  place  the  delay  aren't  all 
they've  got  ter  suffer,  while  in  the  second  it  are  generally 
a  case  of  bein'  clean  and  regular  wiped  out.  Huh!" 

Jack  could  not  help  but  contrast  his  friends  with  these 
unhappy  and  inexperienced  men  the  party  had  come 
upon.  He  looked  about  him  as  he  jogged  along,  and 
was  fain  to  confess  that  there  was  essentially  a  business 
air  about  his  mates — an  air  of  the  plains,  an  atmosphere 
which  spoke  of  independence,  of  courage,  of  that  resource 
without  which  no  hunter  or  scout  in  those  days  could 
have  survived  for  long.  Ahead  of  him  rode  the  burly 
Tom,  the  first  man  to  befriend  him.  Jack  could  catch  a 
view  of  the  tips  of  his  long,  flowing  fair  moustache  blow- 
ing back  at  either  side  of  his  cheeks.  What  a  seat  the 
man  had!  He  seemed  to  be  a  part  of  the  animal  he  rode, 
and  yet  there  was  no  effort  about  his  horsemanship.  To 
look  at  him  he  simply  lounged  in  his  saddle.  Yet,  as 
many  an  incident  had  proved,  Tom  was  not  to  be 
easily  shaken  from  his  seat.  A  sudden  start  of  his 
animal,  a  plunge,  a  trip  over  some  hidden  hole  produced 
the  same  result.  The  burly  Tom  sat  still  at  ease,  the 
picture  of  contentment.  And  beside  him  jogged  Steve, 
the  wiry  little  man  who  has  already  been  introduced  to 
the  reader.  Taciturn  and  silent  as  a  general  rule,  this 
little  man,  so  fine  drawn  and  lean,  could  on  occasion  be 
almost  garrulous.  But  his  features  seldom  wore  other 
than  a  serious  look.  His  keen  eye  was  always  watchful. 

"  Jest  as  I  told  yer,"  remarked  Tom  one  day.     "  Steve 


Out  on  the  Prairie  125 

aer  always  lookin'  round.  He  aer  always  expecting 
something,  and  fer  that  reason  thar  ain't  a  scout  as  I'd 
sooner  ride  with.  Ef  you're  dull  and  sleepy  yerself, 
thar's  Steve  to  watch  fer  yer." 

Let  the  reader  glance  at  those  others  who  had  banded 
themselves  with  Jack  and  his  mates.  Seth,  Tricky  Seth, 
a  picture  of  good  health  and  manliness:  sunburned  to 
the  last  degree,  scarred  across  the  forehead  as  the  result 
of  a  toss  from  a  horse  when  much  younger,  bearded  and 
moustached,  and  as  handsome  a  man  as  one  could  meet 
in  a  week's  march.  Yet  how  simple  the  man  was! 
In  spite  of  his  good  looks,  of  his  obvious  power,  of  a 
frame  which  was  magnificently  put  together,  this  Seth 
was  like  an  overgrown  boy — jolly  the  day  long,  friendly 
with  all,  however  humble,  and  ready  to  lend  a  hand  to 
the  first  who  needed  help.  There  were  no  airs  and 
graces  about  this  scout. 

Then  turn  to  Jacob.  Heavy  and  dull  of  feature,  more 
taciturn  than  Steve  even,  if  that  were  possible,  this  silent 
scout  seemed  to  be  permanently  occupied  with  his 
thoughts.  Of  huge  proportions,  he  moved  as  a  general 
rule  with  a  sluggishness  and  a  want  of  celerity  which 
were  in  distinct  contrast  with  the  sprightliness  and  alert- 
ness of  Steve.  But  the  man  knew  the  plains  by  heart. 
He  had  been  born,  one  might  say,  with  a  gun  in  his 
hand;  and  where  horses  were  concerned  there  was  not 
another  to  be  found  who  could  teach  him. 

"  He  aer  got  the  appearance  of  a  parson  or  a  teacher," 
laughed  Tom,  "  but  Jacob  ain't  always  thinkin'.  Reckon 
he  kin  be  lively  when  he  likes ;  and  ef  he  took  to  runnin' 
yer  or  me  for  a  mile,  guess  we'd  come  in  last  by  a  goodish 
bit,  And  ver  should  jest  see  him  when  he's  got  a  grip 


126  Indian  and  Scout 

of  the  ribbons.  I've  seen  a  hull  heap  of  men  runnin' 
teams,  and  sometimes  it's  mules,  and  t'others  it's  hosses. 
Wall,  it  don't  make  no  sorter  difference  ter  Jacob  what 
the  beasts  aer.  Reckon  ef  they  was  buffalo  he'd  fix  'em 
jest  the  same.  It  aer  a  treat  to  see  him  steering  a  team 
across  bad  country,  and  when  we  comes  ter  settlements, 
and  he  aer  conducting  the  outfit,  why,  guess  it  makes 
them  city  folks  open  their  eyes.  Jacob  aer  a  man  fer 
hosses." 

Then  there  was  Black  Bill,  laughing  and  full  of  fun, 
but  a  thorough  man  of  the  plains  for  all  that.  Dusky 
of  complexion,  of  medium  height,  Bill  could  hold  his 
own  with  anyone  when  it  came  to  the  management  of 
cattle,  for  he  had  spent  some  years  in  the  stockyards. 
And  it  was  reported  that  even  Steve  himself  had  seen 
no  more  of  the  Indians.  Bill  had  experienced  a  deal  of 
fighting. 

Of  Tom  Langham  and  David  there  is  little  to  report. 
The  one  was  as  lean  as  Steve,  but  lankier,  and  amongst 
his  friends  was  a  reputed  yarner.  There  were  few  who 
could  tell  a  fireside  tale  as  Tom  Langham  could.  David 
was  more  of  Jacob's  stamp,  with  little  to  make  him  dis- 
tinctive. And  yet,  put  all  these  men  together,  with  our 
hero  Jack  accompanying  them,  and  even  a  novice  in 
those  parts,  a  city  man,  would  have  found  something  to 
hold  his  attention.  It  was  that  subtle  air  of  business 
which  these  scouts  carried  with  them  wherever  they 
went,  the  air  which  warned  ruffians  of  the  road  to  leave 
them  severely  alone,  and  made  Indians  cautious  of 
attacking  them.  No  wonder  that  Jack  considered  him- 
self lucky.  He  was  in  the  very  best  of  hands,  and  if 
only  his  journey  to  California  turned  out  as  favourably 


Out  on  the  Prairie  127 

as  the  beginning  augured,  then  he  promised  himself 
success.  Who  could  say?  Perhaps  in  that  country  of 
glorious  skies,  of  sunrises  and  sunsets,  he  would  dis- 
cover more  than  gold.  It  might  even  happen,  unlikely 
though  it  seemed,  that  there  amidst  the  miners  he  might 
come  upon  that  evidence  for  which  he  sought,  that  man 
whose  word  alone  could  clear  his  character,  could  make 
of  him  once  again  a  respected  citizen  of  that  town  from 
which  he  had  so  lately  fled. 


CHAPTER   IX 

Only  a  Youngster 

"  WE'VE  a  longish  day  before  us,"  said  Tom  one  after- 
noon, just  after  the  sun  had  mounted  to  its  central  posi- 
tion, and  the  heat  was  at  its  height.  "  Them  pals  of  ours 
has  gone  off  huntin',  fer  it  stands  to  reason  we  must 
have  fresh  meat  to  keep  us  in  good  health.  But,  as  I 
was  say  in',  we're  here,  you  and  I,  in  charge  of  the  team 
and  the  wagon;  and  sense  we  dursent  sleep,  for  there 
ain't  never  no  sayin'  when  something  won't  turn  up,  why 
we'd  best  settle  down  fer  a  jaw.  I  was  thinking  of  that 
business  of  ours  in  the  train,  when  yer  climbed  on  ter 
the  roof.  I  wonder  what  made  yer  think  of  that?" 

Our  hero  was  troubled  by  the  question.  When  he 
came  to  review  his  movements  on  that  eventful  evening, 
and  this  particular  one  more  especially,  he  found  it  hard 
to  say  why  he  had  clambered  to  the  roof  of  the  railway 
coach. 

"  I  suppose  I  saw  in  a  flash  that  that  man  would 
shoot  me  if  I  went  along  the  footboards,"  he  said.  "  I 
had  seen  the  conductor  wounded  and  forced  to  let  go, 
so  I  suppose,  without  thinking,  I  realized  that  the  roof 
was  the  only  place." 

"  Jest  as  I  thought,"  remarked  Tom,  nodding  his  head, 
and  busying  himself  with  his  whip,  which  he  seemed  tP 


Only  a  Youngster  129 

crack  on  every  spare  occasion.  "  That  'ere  fight  reminds 
me  of  a  time  same  as  this,  when  I  was  jest  a  slip  of  a 
youngster.  It  was  down  Mexico  way,  not  in  California, 
whar  we're  goin',  and  thar  was  gold  in  the  question, 
same  as  thar  was  with  you  the  other  day.  Yer  see, 
my  uncle  owned  a  team  of  beasts.  In  fact,  he  owned 
several  teams,  and  made  a  fine  living  by  carting  stores 
down  to  the  Mexican  mines,  and  returning  with  gold. 
He'd  been  extry  lucky,  too,  and  hadn't  been  held  up 
more  than  once.  Then  my  father  died,  and  Uncle 
Jim  took  me  under  his  wing.  I  used  to  march  along- 
side the  team,  help  feed  and  water  the  beasts,  and  lend 
a  hand  at  anything  that  war  wanted.  I  war  jest  about 
thirteen  years  of  age,  I  reckon." 

"Young,"  remarked  Jack.  "But  I  suppose  many 
boys  are  to  be  found  with  the  mule  teams  as  young  as 
that?" 

"  Sometimes  they're  regular  kids,"  came  the  laughing 
rejoinder.  "  I  mind  one  kid  as  war  jest  twelve,  and 
he'd  already  had  a  turn  agin  the  Injuns.  Boys  in  this 
country  don't  get  so  much  schoolin'  as  they  might  else- 
where— in  England,  fer  instance — though  I've  no  doubt, 
when  America's  settled,  the  youngsters  will  get  all  the 
schoolin'  they  want,  and  more  besides.  And  so  it  ain't 
nothin'  outer  the  ordinary  to  meet  kids  out  on  the 
plains.  Wall,  I  was  a  regular  kid,  and  Uncle  Jim  and 
I  did  many  a  march  together.  We'd  been  down  to  a 
mine  located  well  in  the  south,  though  I  can't  get  hold 
of  the  name  at  this  moment.  We'd  dropped  all  our 
goods  thar — hard  tack,  picks,  and  spades,  and  what 
not,  and  had  filled  chuck-full  with  gold.  Reckon  there 
was  twenty-thousand  dollars  worth  of  dust  on  board — 

(0179)  9 


130  Indian  and  Scout 

a  fortune  that  wanted  taking  care  of!  And  take  good 
care  of  it  we  did,  Uncle  sleeping  by  day,  while  I  drove 
the  team.  At  night  he'd  fix  his  pipe  in  between  his 
teeth,  and  keep  watch  wherever  we  were  camped,  while 
I  turned  into  my  blankets.  It  war  jolly  while  it  lasted, 
and  yer  may  bet  that  I  war  a  proud  kid,  takin'  care  of 
that  'ere  team  and  all  the  gold  by  my  solitary  self  durin' 
the  day." 

"And  then?"  asked  Jack  eagerly.  "You  were  held 
up  by  a  gang  of  robbers?" 

"Hold  hard,"  sang  out  Tom.  "We  ain't  got  thar 
yet.  Things  was  goin'  smoothly  enough,  when  Uncle 
took  ill.  He  war  mighty  queer.  To  this  day  I  ain't 
sure  what  ailed  him.  But  I've  a  notion  he'd  got  a  kind 
of  heat  stroke.  Anyways,  he  war  as  hot  as  fire,  and  fer 
a  time  wanderin'  in  his  head.  I  remember  it  war  some- 
where's  about  this  time  of  the  day  when  he  went  queer, 
and,  sense  I  couldn't  drive  the  team  and  look  to  him  at 
the  same  time,  I  formed  camp  jest  beside  the  bank  of  a 
river,  whar  the  road  ran  down  to  the  ford.  I  watered 
the  beasts,  pegged  them  out  to  feed,  and  then  set  to 
work  putting  cold  cloths,  wrung  out  of  river  water,  on 
Uncle's  head.  Reckon  I  kept  at  it  all  that  day,  and 
right  into  the  night,  till  I  was  that  weary  I  was  falling 
asleep  the  instant  I  set  down  in  the  wagon.  And  in  the 
end  I  went  right  fast  off  beside  Uncle,  and  lay  there 
snorin'  till  the  sun  was  up,  and  it  war  nigh  ten  o'clock. 
It  war  a  shout  that  waked  me." 

Tom  looked  over  his  shoulder  to  see  that  Jack  was 
listening,  and  then  threw  the  tail  of  his  whip  lightly 
over  his  leaders,  sending  his  team  bounding  forward. 

"  A  shout,"  repeated  Jack.     "  Yes." 


Only  a  Youngster  131 

"  From  over  the  water,"  said  Tom.  "  I  lifted  the  tilt 
of  the  wagon,  and  looked  across  the  river.  There  was 
four  men,  mounted,  wavin'  their  arms. 

"  *  Whar's  the  ford  start?'  one  of  them  sang  out,  when 
he  seed  me  come  clamberin'  outer  the  wagon.  'Does 
it  run  straight  over  thar  from  whar  we're  standin',  or 
whar  in  thunder  does  it  begin?' 

"  Wall,  I  war  that  green  I  was  jest  on  the  point  of 
singing  out  that  it  cut  clear  down  stream  from  whar 
our  wagon  was  located  till  you  was  in  line  with  a  tree 
on  the  far  side,  and  a  kind  of  little  bay  on  ours.  Thar 
was  shallow  water  on  top  of  a  ledge  running  to  that 
point.  Perhaps  it  war  deep  enough  to  come  to  the 
floor  of  the  wagon,  and  in  bad  weather  it  might  be  an 
inch  or  two  deeper.  But  it  warn't  never  more  that  I 
ever  knowed.  On  either  side  the  ledge  shelved  off 
gradually,  and  in  course  the  water  got  deeper  and 
deeper.  From  the  point  I  jest  mentioned  one  had  to 
swing  the  team  right  across  stream,  drive  'em  fer  ten 
yards  or  so,  and  then  swing  their  heads  up  stream  again. 
It  war  the  stiffest  ford  as  ever  I  crossed,  and  I  can't 
make  no  shape  to  guess  how  it  war  first  located.  But 
thar  it  was,  I'd  been  over  it  a  dozen  times,  and  was  game 
to  take  the  team  myself,  with  the  load  of  gold  dust, 
Uncle,  and  all.  I  war  sayin',  I  war  jest  on  the  point 
of  singing  out  directions  to  the  strangers  over  the  far 
side,  when  Uncle  jest  pops  the  tip  of  his  nose  outer  the 
wagon. 

" '  Hold  on,  Tom,'  he  says.     '  Who  aer  they?' " 

"  I  didn't  know  one  bit.  They  was  travellers  I  sup- 
posed. But  Uncle  had  been  on  that  road  for  seven  years, 
and  guess  he  knew  everyone  for  miles  up  and  down. 


132  Indian  and  Scout 

" '  There's  lour  of  them/  I  said.  '  Guess  they're  going 
down  to  the  mines.' " 

" '  Guess  they're  bound  for  gold  anyway,'  he  says. 
'  Sing  out  as  there's  another  ford  six  miles  up  stream,' 
he  says.  'That'll  give  us  a  breather.  Don't  tell  them 
on  any  account  that  they  kin  cross  here.' " 

"You  may  reckon  I  got  wondering  whether  Uncle 
were  still  wandering,  and  off  his  head.  I  looked  at  him 
precious  hard,  and  axed  him  ef  he  meant  it.  '  They  kin 
guess  there's  a  ford  here,  and  we  know  it,'  I  said,  'else 
we  shouldn't  be  camped  by  the  entrance.' 

" '  Let  'em  guess  it,  then,'  he  kind  of  snapped.  '  Better 
they  should  think  we  was  fools  than  we  should  tell  'em 
the  ford  and  have  'em  takin'  every  dollar  we've  got  on 
board.  Sonny,  those  four  strangers  aer  a  gang  that's 
been  watchin'  fer  me  more  than  once.  I've  give  them 
the  slip  three  times  already,  and  I'll  do  it  agin  this  time 
ef  I'm  able.  Ah,  thunder!  I  can't  even  stand.' 

"  He'd  climbed  to  his  feet  inside  the  wagon,  holding 
0,1  to  the  tilt,  and  jest  as  I  looked  across  the  river  again 
I  heard  him  fall  with  a  bang.  Then  the  man  who'd 
shouted  from  the  far  side  sang  out  again:  'We're  mak- 
ing south,'  he  hailed.  '  We've  been  directed  to  this  here 
ford,  and  sence  you're  meaning  to  cross  yer  must  know 
it.  We  was  told  it  war  tricky.  Whar  does  it  start,  and 
whar  does  one  have  to  turn?' 

" '  Bluff  'em,'  calls  Uncle  from  the  wagon.  '  Ef  yer 
don't,  it'll  be  a  case  with  both  of  us,  youngster.' 

"  Wall,  I  war  only  a  kid,"  said  Tom,  gathering  his 
reins  in  a  bunch,  "  and  I  don't  mind  agreein'  that  I  war 
in  a  mortal  funk.  I'd  heard  of  Uncle's  escapes,  in 
course,  and  I  knew  that  thar  war  men  out  on  the  road 


Only  a  Youngster  133 

who'd  take  every  dollar  we  had,  and  shoot  us  into  the 
bargain.  In  my  fright  I  was  nearly  telling  them  the 
ford.  But  Uncle  war  at  the  tilt  again,  glaring  at  me, 
and  calling  to  me  not  ter  be  a  fool.  And  I  reckon  I 
war  more  afraid  of  Uncle  when  he  was  in  a  rage  than 
I  war  of  any  other  man  under  the  sun.  I  warn't  fer 
telling  a  lie  anyhow,  but  I  'low  as  all  aer  fair  in  love 
and  war,  and  thet  was  a  case  of  war.  So  I  plucked 
up  some  sorter  courage  and  called  back  to  the  men: 
'  Uncle's  ill,'  I  shouted.  '  He's  too  ill  to  come  out  and 
show  the  ford.  But  thar's  another,  six  miles  higher 
up.  Yer  can't  miss  it  when  you  get  thar.  It's  easier 
than  this  one.' 

"  Wall,  that  didn't  please  'em.  I  could  see  the  critters 
putting  their  heads  together,  and  perhaps  they  guessed 
that  Uncle  could  ha'  told  me,  even  if  he  war  too  ill 
to  shout  to  them.  So  they  tried  to  scare  me  into  telling 
them. 

" '  This  here's  a  case  of  life  and  death,'  sings  out  the 
rascal  as  had  shouted  before.  We're  going  south  ter  see 
our  mother.  She's  thet  bad  she  ain't  expected  ter  last 
over  long.  So  we're  pushing  down  as  fast  as  we  can. 
Ax  yer  uncle  ter  tell  you  the  road.' 

"'Ax  him  the  name  of  his  mother,'  growls  Uncle  from 
the  wagon. 

"  Wall,  thet  did  it,"  said  Tom  with  a  grin,  looking  into 
Jack's  face.  "  In  course  they  seed  that  they  was  being 
bluffed,  and  one  of  'em  made  up  his  mind  to  find  the 
ford  for  himself.  He  rid  down  the  bank,  spurred  his 
horse  on  into  the  water,  and  was  ten  feet  out  in  no  time. 
By  then  the  water  was  jest  washin'  his  boots.  Reckon 
he  war  on  the  ledge  that  carried  the  ford  on  the  far  side. 


134  Indian  and  Scout 

" '  You  kin  come  along,  mates,'  he  sang  out.  '  Ef  that 
imp  don't  care  ter  ax  his  uncle,  or  ef  his  uncle's  foxin' 
ill,  and  won't  say,  why  we'll  get  across  all  the  same, 
and  make  south  all  the  sooner.' 

"  Guess  he  thought  he  was  safely  over,"  laughed  Tom ; 
"  but  he  warn't.  One  of  his  mates  joined  him,  while  the 
other  two  rode  jest  behind.  Then  suddenly,  afore  you 
could  have  expected  it,  the  two  who  were  leading, 
plunged  into  deep  water.  In  course  their  horses  started 
swimmin',  but  the  jerk,  and  being  unused  to  thet  sort  of 
thing  perhaps,  upset  their  riders,  and  reckon  them  two 
had  a  fine  sousing.  They  turned  back  to  the  bank,  and 
went  climbing  outer  the  water,  shoutin'  and  cussin',  and 
sayin'  what  they'd  do  ter  me  ef  they  could  only  get 
across.  Then  they  turned  their  bosses'  heads  and  rid 
like  mad  fer  the  other  ford! 

"  *  Get  them  mules  in  quick,'  sings  out  Uncle,  squintin' 
outer  the  wagon  from  beneath  the  tilt.  *  Them  critters'll 
be  here  afore  yer  kin  look  round,  and  ef  we  ain't  slippy 
they'll  have  us.  Cut  the  ropes,  lad,  and  let  yer  blankets 
and  sich  things  lie  as  they  are.  Ef  we're  alive  we  kin 
come  back  fer  'em.  Ef  we're  dead,  guess  we  shan't 
want  'em.  Quick  aer  the  word!' 

"Yer  could  see  as  he  war  anxious,  and  in  course  I 
set  to  ter  fix  the  team  into  the  wagon  jest  as  slippy  as 
I  could.  But  I  war  a  boy,  yer  must  remember,  and 
it  aer  a  man's  work  ter  tie  a  hull  team  into  their  places. 
Then,  what  with  thinkin'  of  them  critters,  and  the 
funk  I  war  in,  every  trace  I  touched  got  hooked  to 
the  wrong  bar.  There  was  Uncle,  too,  squintin'  at 
me  from  under  the  tilt,  his  face  a  fiery  red,  and  his 
dander  burnin'.  I  wonder  now  thet  I  war  able  to  fix 


Only  a  Youngster  135 

'em  all.  But  at  last  the  mules  were  tied  in  and  we 
was  ready. 

" '  I'm  to  drive  'em  over?"  I  axed  the  old  man.  '  Clean 
slick  across?' 

"'You  aer  soft!"  he  sings  out  in  a  kind  of  shriek. 
'That's  what  they  want  you  to  do.  It's  jest  what  we 
ain't  meanin'  ter  carry  out.  Kin  yer  guess  why?' 

"  I  couldn't,"  said  Tom,  making  a  grimace.  "  I  war  a 
thick-headed  kid,  and  the  bustle  had  scared  away  all 
the  sense  I  ever  had. 

""Cos  them  critters'll  have  divided,'  shouted  Uncle. 
'  They  know  that  I'm  queer,  and  they  guess  a  kid  ain't 
much  ter  be  afraid  of.  Ef  they'd  happened  to  have 
known  this  ford  they  would  have  ridden  clean  across, 
took  the  gold,  and  riddled  us  with  bullets.  As  it  aer, 
two  of  'em  will  cross,  the  other  two's  hid  up  thar  over 
the  far  side  of  the  river.  They  reckon  they're  bound  ter 
have  us  either  way.  Boy,  aer  you  game  ter  fight  'em?' 

" '  I'll  try,'  I  says.     '  What  am  I  ter  do?' 

"'Send  yer  team  into  the  water,  and  cut  out  along 
the  ford.  When  you've  reached  the  point  whar,  in  the 
ordinary  course,  you'd  swing  'em  up  stream,  jest  pull 
'em  in.  It  ain't  over  deep  thar,  and  sense  it's  hot  these 
days  the  mules  won't  mind  it.  Hold  the  critters  thar 
till  you  see  how  things  aer  workin1.  Ef  the  two  men 
who  have  crossed  ride  out  to  us,  we  must  try  and  shoot 
'em.  Ef  the  others  come  riding  out  to  join  them,  then 
we've  two  things  we  kin  do.  One  is  ter  send  the  team 
along  the  road  fer  the  other  bank  and  chance  the 
shootin'.  T'other  is  to  drive  'em  into  deep  water  till 
the  cart  is  out  of  reach,  cut  the  traces,  and  leave  the 
mules  to  swim  ashore.' 


136  Indian  and  Scout 

"  Wall,  that  fairly  staggered  me,"  said  Tom.  " '  Drive 
the  wagon  into  deep  water,  Uncle?'  I  axed,  and  I  reckon 
my  eyes  was  nearly  starting  from  my  head. 

"  *  Yer've  got  it/  he  answers,  as  if  thar  warn't  nothing 
outer  the  way  in  the  order.  '  This  cart's  heavy.  It  are 
got  enough  dust  aboard  to  keep  it  on  the  bottom  till  the 
whole  of  the  tilt  is  covered  with  water.  I'd  sooner  sink 
the  hull  thing,  and  myself  too,  ef  that  war  necessary, 
than  see  them  critters  get  the  gold.  But  we  ain't  goin' 
ter  do  that.  Drive  the  wagon  off  the  road  till  the  mules 
are  off  their  feet  and  swimmin1.  By  then  we  shall  be 
deep  enough.  Then  cut  'em  free  and  wait  fer  them 
critters.  Yer've  got  to  shoot,  young  un.' 

"  We  was  in  a  bad  muss  anyway,"  said  Tom,  his  face 
assuming  for  the  moment  a  stern  aspect;  "and  what 
with  the  bustle  of  puttin'  in  the  mules,  and  headin' 
them  for  the  ford,  I  kind  of  forgot  my  fears.  I  was 
that  busy  I  hadn't  time  to  think  what  might  happen 
when  those  villains  reached  us.  So,  somehow  or  other, 
I  grew  out  of  the  funk  that  had  set  my  teeth  chatterin' 
and  my  fingers  shakin',  and,  rememberin'  that  the  team 
was  in  my  hands  entirely,  I  made  up  my  mind  to  bring 
'em  through.  The  leaders  was  enterin'  the  water  before 
yer  could  think,  and  before  five  minutes  had  passed,  we 
were  well  out  in  the  centre. 

"  *  Now  pull  'em  in,'  says  Uncle.  '  Them  critters'll  be 
here  in  ten  minutes,  and  by  then  the  mules  will  be 
wantin'  to  move  on.  Yer'll  have  ter  hold  'em  tight, 
lad.  Jest  remember  that  you  are  in  charge  of  yer  old 
uncle  and  of  the  gold.  Ef  yer  pull  us  through  it'll  be 
the  making  of  yer.' 

"  From  being  in  a  funk  I  got  quite  lively,  and  as  proud 


Only  a  Youngster  137 

as  a  peacock,  and  sat  there  at  the  front  of  the  wagon, 
same  as  I  am  here,  holding  the  reins,  and  fingering  my 
shooter  every  now  and  again.  I'd  never  let  one  off 
before  that,  except  sometimes  Uncle  would  give  me  a 
shot  when  we  were  well  out  on  the  plains.  But  I  'lowed 
as  I  could  try,  and  by  the  time  them  critters  turned  up 
I'd  fixed  it  that  I  would  shoot  every  man  of  'em  sooner 
than  lose  the  wagon  and  Uncle. 

"Wall,  in  course  of  time  two  of  the  men  that  we'd 
first  seen  on  the  far  side  of  the  river  came  galloping  up 
along  the  bank  we'd  jest  left.  Reckon  they  and  their 
mates  had  been  lying  hid,  waiting  fer  us  ter  get  across, 
and  they  set  to  howlin'  when  it  war  clear  that  we  had 
taken  to  the  river  ter  get  protection.  The  two  who  had 
stayed  up  on  the  other  bank  came  over  a  hill  some  four 
hundred  yards  away,  and  thar  ain't  a  doubt  but  that 
they  had  been  watchin'.  Anyway,  they  knew  the  route 
we'd  taken.  There  warn't,  neither,  any  more  doubt  as 
to  what  their  business  was.  One  of  the  critters  let  his 
shooter  loose,  and  in  a  second,  flick!  goes  a  bullet 
through  the  tilt  of  the  wagon  close  behind  my  ear. 

"'That  ain't  nothing'  sings  out  Uncle.  'A  bullet 
don't  hurt  till  it  hits,  and  the  range  are  long  for  'em. 
Hold  them  critters  steady,  lad,  and  ef  I  tell  yer,  whip 
'em  up  and  swing  'em  fer  the  far  shore.  Thar's  this  in 
our  favour:  we've  only  two  a  side  to  deal  with.  When 
they  was  on  the  far  bank  there  were  four.  Now  we  kin 
be  more  even.' 

"The  two  on  our  side  rode  their  horses  right  down 
into  the  water,  and  then  we  larned  that  we  wasn't  to 
have  it  altogether  our  own  way.  Uncle  had  forgotten 
that  two  of  the  critters  had  been  watchin',  and  these 


138  Indian  and  Scout 

two  stood  with  their  hosses'  feet  in  the  water  and  called 
across  to  their  friends,  giving  them  directions  how  to 
move  so  as  to  follow  the  ford.  They  meant  business, 
there  warn't  a  doubt,  fer  in  two  seconds  the  men  on 
our  side  were  edging  their  beasts  slowly  into  the  stream, 
kinder  feelin'  the  ridge  beneath  them,  and  making  out 
to  where  we  were  stood.  It  began  to  look  ticklish,  and 
a  lot  wuss  when  the  two  varmint  on  the  far  side  rid 
their  mounts  farther  into  the  river,  and,  as  ef  they'd 
guessed  that  the  ledge  must  make  in  a  line  to  whar 
we  were,  began  to  push  on  towards  us. 

" '  It  aer  a  case  of  facin'  the  hull  crowd  or  of  sinking 
the  cargo,'  sings  out  Uncle. 

"  Ef  he'd  been  strong  enough  ter  get  to  his  feet  I 
reckon  he  would  have  faced  the  crowd  alone,  fer  he 
had  fine  courage;  but  he  war  as  weak  as  a  child,  and 
could  only  lie  there  raging  at  his  helplessness. 

"'Kin  you  tackle  the  lot  alone,  Tom?'  he  asked  after 
a  bit,  when  them  critters  was  close  handy. 

"I  suppose  I  looked  what  I  thought.  There  warn't 
a  chance  that  I  could  manage  the  team  and  fight  them 
four. 

"'Then  whip  'em  up  and  run  her  into  deep  water,' 
cries  the  old  man.  '  Ef  the  cart  sinks  fer  good,  then  at 
any  rate  they  won't  have  had  the  gold.  Ef  she  holds 
the  bottom  we'll  be  able  to  get  a  rope  on  to  her  later  on, 
and  an  extry  team  will  pull  her  out.  Swing  'em  over, 
lad,  and  get  ready  to  cut  the  critters  loose.  It  wouldn't 
do  to  leave  them  tied  by  the  traces.  They'd  drown  like 
rats  in  a  trap." 

"Yer  should  ha'  heard  the  row  them  fellers  made 
when  the  cart  got  moving  suddenly,"  said  Tom,  laugh- 


Only  a  Youngster  139 

ing  loudly  at  the  recollection.  "  I  war  a  boy,  yer  must 
recollect,  and  thim  shouts  fairly  scared  me  fer  a  moment, 
and  kind  of  driv  all  my  courage  outer  my  elbows.  I 
mind  the  fact  that,  fer  months  after,  when  I  happened  to 
dream  a  little,  it  war  always  about  those  men,  and  the 
shout  they  gave  used  ter  set  me  awake,  sitting  up  in 
my  blankets  and  quaking.  But  thar  was  Uncle  close 
handy,  and,  though  he  was  helpless,  I  feared  him  a 
goodish  deal  more  than  the  robbers  who  were  riding 
out  into  the  stream.  Also,  and  yer  kin  believe  it, 
seeing  as  you're  young,  I  had  a  sort  of  feeling  that 
kept  me  going.  I  knew  that  I  was  responsible  fer  the 
safety  of  Uncle  and  the  gold.  There  wasn't  another 
soul  handy  to  help  me,  and  ef  I  went  down  through 
funk  then  everything  was  lost.  I  may  be  right — Gee! 
I'm  sure  I  am — when  a  young  chap  knows  that  others 
are  relying  on  him,  that  he  has  a  sort  of  duty  before 
him,  why  it's  in  his  nature,  it's  human  nature  ef  yer  like, 
fer  him  to  buckle  to,  ter  get  savage  and  stubborn,  and  ter 
swear  to  hisself  that  he's  going  ter  get  through  with  the 
job  and  win  out  whatever  happens.  Anyway,  that's 
how  I  felt.  I  didn't  give  a  how  of  chips  for  the  thought 
that  I  might  be  drowned.  I  jest  picked  up  the  reins 
hard,  flicked  my  whip-end  over  the  leaders,  and  sent 
'em  forward.  In  two  yards  I  should  ha'  swung  them 
to  the  right  ef  I  wanted  to  follow  the  ford.  Ef  I  swung 
'em  to  the  left  they  would  drag  the  cart  into  deep  water, 
and  pretty  sudden  too,  fer  the  ledge  carrying  the  road 
over  the  river  broke  off  on  that  side  rather  abruptly,  and 
thar  was  ten  foot  of  depth  within  six  yards  of  whar  we 
were  standing. 

"'Git  at  it,  lad!'  sings  out  Uncle.     And  git  at  it  I 


Indian  and  Scout 

did.  I  drove  the  mules  clear  to  the  left,  and  in  a  few 
seconds  the  leaders  was  swimming.  I  made  sure  that 
in  another  moment  or  two  I  should  be  in  water  up  to 
my  neck.  But  jest  then  one  of  the  robbers  sent  a  bullet 
in  our  direction.  It  missed  me  by  a  hair,  and,  flying  on, 
struck  one  of  the  wheelers.  And  thet  'ere  bullet  seemed 
to  finish  the  case  fer  us.  It  sent  the  mule  it  struck 
plunging  right  and  left,  and  scared  the  other  beasts. 
Instead  of  pulling  the  cart  out  into  deep  water,  the 
leader  of  our  team  swum  round  fer  the  place  they  knew 
would  give  'em  footing.  And  once  they  had  got  it, 
there  they  stood,  sweating  in  spite  of  the  water,  ready 
to  break  away  at  any  moment,  and  refusing  to  answer 
to  the  reins.  It  war  a  fix.  Thar  war  the  cart  in 
deeper  water,  to  be  sure,  but  still  on  the  ledge,  and 
easily  get-at-able  by  them  robbers. 

" '  Give  'em  the  whip.  Swing  'em  over,  Tom,'  shouts 
Uncle.  "  Them  critters  will  get  us  here.  Push  the  team 
on!1 

"It  war  easy  ter  order,  but  hard  ter  carry  out  the  work. 
The  mules  were  that  scared  they  wouldn't  budge  one 
way  or  the  other.  They  jest  stood  thar,  with  the  water 
washing  all  round  them,  their  ears  thrown  back,  ready 
ter  do  something  extry  silly  the  next  second,  but  refusing 
blank  ter  do  what  war  expected  of  them.  .  And  all  the 
while  thar  was  them  four  robbers  riding  out,  feelin' 
their  way  carefully,  and  gettin'  nearer.  In  fact,  they 
was  at  that  moment  within  twenty  paces,  close  enough 
to  make  fair  shooting.  I  know  that,  'cos  one  of  the 
varmint  lifted  his  shooter,  took  a  careful  aim  at  me 
sittin'  there  on  the  box,  and  let  off  his  gun.  It  war 
lucky  that  them  leaders  give  a  jerk  just  then.  It  made 


Only  a  Youngster  141 

me  swing  over  to  the  right,  while  the  bullet  ripped  past 
my  shoulder  and  cut  a  neat  little  hole  in  the  tilt. 

"'We're  done,'  I  heard  Uncle  groan.  Then  the 
corner  of  the  tilt  that  he  had  been  holding  up,  so  as 
to  be  able  to  look  out,  fell  back  into  place,  and  by  the 
bump  I  heard  I  reckoned  he'd  fallen  back  in  a  faint. 
Thar  war  I  left  all  alone  ter  face  them  critters." 

The  very  recollection  of  such  a  position  made  Tom 
hot.  He  drew  a  huge,  red  handkerchief  from  his  hat, 
where  he  was  in  the  habit  of  carrying  it,  and  mopped 
his  forehead. 

"  It  war  a  teaser,"  he  said. 

1  It  was,"  admitted  Jack.     "  What  happened?' 

"  I  expected  to  be  shot  any  second.  I  gave  a  slash 
at  my  leaders  again,  and  did  my  best  to  move  them. 
But  they  wouldn't  budge.  Then  one  of  them  villains  let 
off  his  gun  so  close  that  I  reckon  the  smoke  and  the 
flash  scared  me,  though  why  the  bullet  didn't  hit  me  is 
a  puzzle  I  ain't  going  to  try  ter  explain.  I  war  scared 
right  enough,  and  the  start  I  gave  caused  me  to  roll 
from  the  seat  where  I  was  sitting  splosh  into  the  water. 
Yer  should  ha'  heard  them  critters  yell  again.  Guess 
they  took  it  fer  granted  that  the  trouble  was  over,  and 
that  the  gold  and  the  cart  was  theirs.  But  it  warn't.  I 
had  got  something  more  to  say  in  the  business." 

"  How?"  asked  Jack,  who  was  more  than  interested. 
"  You  fell  from  your  seat  into  the  water." 

"  I  did  that.  The  cart  war  left  on  the  edge  of  the 
ledge,  as  I've  already  said,  and  the  river  was  jest  about 
washing  the  floor  boards.  I  floundered  under  the  sur- 
face for  a  bit,  and  then  got  my  feet  safe  on  ter  the  ledge. 
But  when  I  lifted  my  head  to  take  a  breath  it  came 


142  Indian  and  Scout 

bump  up  agin  the  floor  boards.  I  war  clear  under  the 
wagon,  and,  as  luck  would  have  it,  there  was  jest  enough 
space  there  to  allow  me  to  breathe.  Guess  them  four 
critters  thought  I  was  drownded,  fer  they  rid  up  to  the 
wagon  laughing  fit  ter  bust. 

"  *  That  'ere  shot  cleared  him  out  fine,'  I  heard  one  of 
them  shout.  *  Git  to  their  heads,  mate,  and  take  them 
along  the  ford.  We  ain't  out  of  this  muss  yet.  Joe, 
ride  ahead,  and  make  sure  ye're  on  the  ledge.  Now 
that  we've  got  the  gold  it  won't  do  ter  lose  it.  I'll  keep 
close  handy  to  the  cart.  The  old  man'll  want  shootinV 

"  That's  the  sort  of  ruffians  they  was,"  explained  Tom. 
"  They  didn't  think  no  more  of  shootin'  a  man  then  I 
think  of  eatin'  dinner.  And  it  didn't  make  no  differ- 
ence to  them  whether  it  war  a  boy  their  bullets  hit,  or 
a  man.  But  I  war  under  the  wagon,  and  though  I  had 
been  scared  I  warn't  done  with,  not  by  a  heap.  Yer 
must  understand  that  gold  dust  are  heavy  stuff  to  carry, 
but  it  don't  take  up  a  heap  of  room,  so  thar  was  plenty 
o'  space  left  fer  us  in  the  wagon.  Then,  same  as  we 
have  here,  some  of  the  boards  was  kept  loose  on  purpose. 
Yer  see,  out  on  the  plains,  when  ye've  a  load,  yer  often 
want  to  carry  odds  and  ends  slung  to  the  wagon. 
Thar's  a  pail  fer  watering  the  mules,  a  cooking  pot, 
and  sich  like  things.  Sometimes  they're  jest  slung  to 
hooks  screwed  into  the  bottom  boards.  But  Uncle  had 
his  own  ideas  of  comfort  and  of  doin'  things,  and  I 
reckon  he  ought  to  know  what  was  right,  seein'  he'd 
been  on  the  road  so  long.  His  idea  was  to  have  a  tray 
slung  under  the  centre  of  the  wagon  by  means  of  four 
short  lengths  of  chain,  and  the  bottom  boards  above 
carried  loose,  so  as  you  could  haul  up  anything  you 


Only  a  Youngster  143 

wanted  from  the  tray.  Wall  now,  in  course,  seeing  that 
we  had  to  cross  the  river,  I  had  removed  every  stick 
from  that  tray.  It  come  bump  up  agin  me  as  I 
crouched  below  the  wagon,  and,  as  those  men  moved 
the  team  along,  I  jest  climbed  on  to  the  tray  and  rose 
my  head  through  the  boards  of  the  wagon.  It  war  as 
good  as  a  play.  There  were  them  critters  thinkin'  that 
I  was  floatin'  down  the  river.  And  there  was  me,  half 
in  the  wagon,  extry  lively,  wonderin'  hard  what  ter  do. 
It  war  Uncle's  shooter  that  decided  the  matter.  He  was 
lying  close  handy  to  the  opening,  as  pale  as  death,  with 
his  revolver  on  the  boards  beside  him. 

*  *  Yer  own's  drenched  by  the  river/  I  said  to  myself, 
feeling  for  the  shooter  I  carried  in  my  belt.  'His  is 
all  right.  Take  it,  and  go  fer  them  critters.'  Wall, 
I  hopped  clean  into  the  wagon  then,  waited  a  bit  till 
we  were  getting  close  to  the  far  bank,  fer  the  robbers 
war  guiding  the  team  all  the  while,  and  war  going  for- 
ward as  slow  as  ef  it  war  to  a  funeral.  Then  I  lifted 
the  edge  of  the  tilt,  took  aim  at  the  chap  riding  nearest, 
and  pulled  the  trigger.  Reckon  he  war  killed  outright. 
Anyway,  he  plumped  into  the  water,  and  none  of  us 
saw  him  agin.  But  you  kin  guess  that  thar  war  a 
ruction.  Them  fellers  thought  that  they  had  the  thing 
all  to  themselves,  and  then,  all  of  a  sudden,  one  of  their 
number  was  wiped  out.  They  wasn't  cowards,  to  say 
the  best  of  them,  and  the  three  who  war  left  gave  up 
minding  the  mules  and  came  ridin'  their  bosses  back 
to  the  wagon,  sending  a  bullet  or  so  to  show  that  they 
war  coming.  Yer  don't  think  I  waited  for  'em,  do  yer?" 

Tom  asked  the  question  with  a  knowing  wag  of  his 
head. 


144  Indian  and  Scout 

"  Not  much,"  he  proceeded,  as  Jack  showed  his  doubt. 
"  I  knew  ef  I  stayed  in  the  wagon  they'd  riddle  me 
before  I  could  wink:  same  as  you  guessed  that  thet 
fellow  in  the  railway  carriage  would  shoot  yer  ef  yer 
rose  your  head  above  the  window.  Thar  was  Uncle, 
too.  Ef  I  got  shot  where  I  was,  he  was  certain  ter 
be  found  and  an  end  made  of  him.  I  kinder  guessed 
the  whole  thing  in  a  flash,  and  then  dived  through  the 
boards  of  the  wagon,  on  to  the  tray  below,  and  then 
into  the  river.  There  was  eight  inches  or  more  of  air 
space  beneath  the  boards  by  then,  fer  the  ledge  was 
rising,  and  ef  a  man  had  stood  in  the  river  and  stooped, 
so  as  to  get  a  view,  he  could  have  seen  me  fer.  certain. 
But  them  critters  was  on  horseback,  and  I  reckon 
they  never  gave  a  thought  to  the  under  part  of  the 
wagon.  Anyway,  they  rode  up  with  every  intention 
of  pulling  the  tilt  aside  and  shooting  me  the  moment 
they  could  clap  eyes  on  my  figure.  And  I  disappointed 
'em.  I  jest  waded  to  the  edge  of  the  wagon,  fixed 
myself  inside  one  of  the  wheels,  and  when  they  was 
within  five  feet  of  me  let  go  with  my  pistol.  It  fixed 
'em  sure.  They  wasn't  expecting  anything  from  under- 
neath the  wagon,  same  as  that  critter  in  the  train  warn't 
expecting  nothing  from  the  roof.  My  bullet  must  have 
struck  one  of  the  hosses,  and  the  mad  plunging  of  the 
beast  didn't  help  matters  for  them.  Then  a  second 
bullet  winged  one  of  the  men,  and  in  a  moment  they 
went  flying.  Gee!  It  makes  me  laugh  now  to  think 
of  the  muss  they  got  into.  The  bank  war  on  our  left, 
and  a  short  cut  to  it  took  yer  into  deep  water.  They 
war  properly  scared,  and,  like  people  in  a  similar  con- 
dition, they  made  fer  safety  by  what  seemed  ter  be  the 


Only  a  Youngster  145 

quickest  route.  In  two  seconds  their  bosses  was 
swimming,  and  before  they  managed  to  reach  the  bank 
one  at  least  of  the  villains  had  had  a  narrow  squeak  fer 
his  life.  As  fer  me,  I  climbed  on  to  the  box,  took  up 
the  reins,  and  sent  the  mules  flyin'  to  the  bank.  But 
I  didn't  stay  there.  I  turned  'em,  and  came  back  over 
the  water.  Yer  see,  the  three  robbers  was  left  on  the 
far  side,  and  ef  they  wanted  to  attack  again  they  had 
to  cross  the  ford  there  in  full  view,  or  had  to  gallop  up 
to  the  other  ford.  In  any  case  it  would  give  me  time 
to  fix  matters  up  a  little,  and  pay  some  attention  to 
Uncle." 

"You  saved  him,"  said  Jack  enthusiastically.  "He 
must  have  been  proud  of  you.  You  were  only  a  boy, 
I  must  remember." 

"  He  war  a  peppery  feller,"  laughed  Tom.  "He  came 
to  his  senses  five  minutes  later,  and  fer  a  time  I  guess 
he  thought  the  cart  and  the  gold  were  taken.  Then  he 
reckoned  he'd  had  a  baddish  dream.  It  warn't  till  the 
following  day  thet  I  told  him." 

"And  then?"  asked  Jack. 

"He  war  a  regular  father  to  me.  He's  an  old  man 
now,  living  in  New  York  State;  but  his  home's  mine, 
and  his  money  too  ef  I  wanted  it." 


(0179)  10 


CHAPTER   X 

A  Buffalo  Hunt 

"  THEM'S  buffalo  without  a  shadow  o'  doubt,"  said  Steve, 
one  afternoon,  six  weeks  after  the  little  party  had  set 
out  on  their  long  journey  to  California.  "  Ef  yer  shade 
yer  eyes  and  look  close  yer  can  see  a  dark  line  that 
ain't  never  still.  Them's  buffalo." 

The  little  hunter  spoke  with  an  assurance  born  of 
long  experience,  and  sat  his  horse  with  one  hand  above 
his  eyes,  and  the  brim  of  his  hat  pulled  low.  Jack  fol- 
lowed suit;  but  though  he  could  distinguish  the  dark 
line  away  on  the  plain,  he  could  make  nothing  more 
of  it. 

"There  is  a  line,  right  enough,  Steve,"  he  admitted, 
"  and  as  you  say  it's  buffalo  I'm  bound  to  believe  you ; 
but  I  can't  see  a  single  animal." 

"  No  more  yer  would  ef  yer  was  to  stare  for  halt 
a  day,"  came  the  answer,  "'cos  they're  packed  as  tight 
as  herrings  in  a  barrel.  But  the  cloud  above  the  line 
tells  a  hunter  the  right  tale.  That  aer  dust,  and  them 
beasts  is  moving  pretty  rapid.  How'd  yer  like  ter  try 
a  shot  at  'em?" 

Jack  was  all  eagerness  at  once,  for  he  had  been  prac- 
tising diligently  with  his  weapons  during  the  days  which 
had  passed,  and  wished  now  to  show  of  what  he  was 
capable.  Indeed,  the  injury  to  his  shoulder  had  in  a 

146 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  147 

measure  been  for  his  good;  for  in  place  of  mounting 
a  rough  horse  immediately  on  joining  the  party,  and 
thereby  risking  perhaps  a  heavy  fall,  he  had  been 
obliged  to  take  a  mount  which  was  known  to  be  quiet 
and  well  trained.  And  from  the  back  of  this  animal 
he  had  been  able  to  use  his  weapons  without  fear  of 
a  sudden  movement  which  would  have  unseated  him. 

"  I'd  much  rather  have  taken  my  chances  like  any 
other  newcomer,"  he  had  said  to  Tom  one  day,  as  they 
jogged  along;  "but  I'm  bound  to  admit  that  this  steady 
practice  in  the  saddle,  and  using  my  rifle  and  revolver, 
have  done  much  for  me." 

"  Yer  bet,"  was  the  answer.  "  Thar's  a  sight  of  green 
'uns  comes  out  this  way,  and  thinks  they're  goin'  to 
show  the  boys  right  off  how  to  ride.  Wall,  that  leads 
to  falls  in  general,  sometimes  to  broken  necks.  Thar 
are  some,  I  'low,  as  comes  through  fine,  and  shows  heaps 
of  grit.  But  others  weakens,  while  not  a  few  gets  broken 
up,  legs  or  arms  smashed,  or  somethin'  of  that  sort. 
From  what  I  knows  of  yer,  young  'un,  it's  natural  yer'd 
ha'  liked  to  show  yer  grit  like  those  others.  But  that 
shoulder  aren't  to  be  played  with.  Yer've  got  ter  take 
it  easy,  and  take  care  not  to  risk  a  fall.  But  yer've 
got  one  big  advantage." 

"And  what  is  that?"  asked  Jack,  wondering. 

"  I'll  tell  yer.  Most  every  man  larns  to  shoot  when 
on  his  legs.  There  ain't  nothin'  to  prevent  yer  doin' 
the  same.  But  with  that  quiet  horse  yer  kin  set  to 
with  the  guns  on  the  trace,  and  there  ain't  nothin'  like 
the  man  as  can  shoot  as  quick  and  as  straight  when  on 
a  movin'  horse.  'Sides,  you  can  practise  both  hands. 
Twon't  hurt  the  shoulder." 


148  Indian  and  Scout 

And  so,  thanks  to  constant  practice,  Jack  was  now 
by  no  means  a  duffer  with  rifle  and  revolver,  while  he 
could  shoot  with  the  latter  equally  well  with  either 
hand. 

"  Them  buffalo  are  making  east,"  said  Steve,  as  he 
watched  the  distant  line,  "and  sense  the  wind's  from 
that  quarter  thar  ain't  nothin'  to  prevent  us  comin'  up 
behind  'em.  Mind  yer,  none  but  a  downright  fool 
would  ever  attempt  to  head  'em,  'cos  thar  ain't  no 
stoppin'  buffalo  on  the  move.  Ef  you  was  to  build  a 
wall  in  front  of  'em,  they'd  push  it  over.  Thar's 
thousands  as  a  rule  in  the  herds,  and  them  as  is  in  the 
back  lines  don't  know  what's  happenin'  away  in  front. 
And  so  they  goes  on  pushin'  and  shovin',  and  squeezin' 
the  ones  up  in  the  front,  till  they're  bound  ter  move 
forward.  Hundreds  and  hundreds  of  the  beasts  have 
been  known  ter  go  head  over  ears  over  a  cliff  before 
their  mates  behind  got  to  reckon  what  was  happenin'. 
Guess  we'll  cut  dead  across.  That'll  bring  us  near  level 
with  the  last  of  the  herd,  and  then  it'll  be  a  poor  day  ef 
we  don't  manage  to  cut  one  of  'em  out." 

Slinging  his  rifle  at  Steve's  bidding,  Jack  shook  up  his 
horse,  a  more  spirited  one  now  than  the  animal  he  had 
at  first  ridden,  and  cantered  along  beside  the  hunts- 
man. 

"A  gun  aer  no  use  fer  this  job,"  sang  out  Steve. 
"Thar  ain't  no  fetchin'  a  buffalo  down  unless  he's  hit 
heavy,  and  to  do  that  yer've  got  ter  ride  in  close.  The 
Injuns  kill  'em  with  arrows,  and  I've  seen  their  hunters 
ride  up  behind  a  herd  and  stand  on  the  back  of  the 
beast  they've  chosen.  Then,  with  an  arrow  drawn  to  the 
head,  the  chances  are  it'll  go  clean  through  the  buffalo's 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  149 

heart.  A  shooter  are  the  weapon  for  'em,  and  when  yer 
fire,  aim  just  behind  the  shoulder." 

A  sharp  canter  took  them  rapidly  closer  to  the  herd, 
and  very  soon  the  dark  line  resolved  itself  into  a  mass 
of  moving  beasts,  over  whom  hung  a  cloud  of  yellow 
dust.  Steve  turned  his  horse  a  little,  and  cantered 
on  till  the  tail  of  the  herd  was  passing. 

"  Now's  the  time,"  he  sang  out.  "  Keep  along  beside 
me  till  we're  well  behind  'em.  Then  ride  forward 
till  ye're  almost  in  the  crowd.  That'll  allow  yer  to 
select  a  beast  and  shoot  him.  Don't  fire  at  more  than 
one.  Guess  two  beasts  altogether  will  keep  us  in  food 
fer  a  month.  And  jest  one  more  warnin'.  Keep  clear 
of  their  horns.  They're  the  ugliest  things  fer  diggin' 
I  ever  hit  across." 

Gripping  his  reins  firmly  in  his  left  hand,  Jack  followed 
Steve  until  they  were  right  behind  the  centre  of  the  herd. 
The  beasts  seemed  to  have  scented  their  enemies ;  for  the 
pace  of  those  behind  increased  of  a  sudden,  while  those 
in  front,  pressed  on  in  spite  of  themselves,  soon  broke 
into  a  fast  gallop,  which  taxed  the  fleetness  of  the  horses. 
Watching  the  mass  of  struggling  beasts,  our  hero  soon 
picked  out  a  huge  animal,  floundering  along  in  rear,  and 
when  Steve  shouted,  he  turned  his  horse  and  rode  him 
up  beside  the  buffalo  he  had  selected.  And  it  seemed 
at  once  as  if  the  beast  realized  his  intentions,  for  it 
increased  its  pace,  and,  shouldering  its  way  amongst 
its  fellows,  soon  placed  a  couple  of  rows  of  buffalo 
between  it  and  Jack. 

"  I've  chosen  him,  and  I'm  going  to  bag  him,  whatever 
happens,"  thought  our  hero,  as  he  raced  along.  "I'll 
follow  in  after  the  beast." 


150  Indian  and  Scout 

Pressing  his  horse  with  both  knees,  and  urging  him 
forward  with  voice  and  spur,  he  managed  to  wedge  him- 
self in  the  last  line  of  moving  buffalo.  Another  effort 
and  he  passed  right  through  it,  and  was  almost  within 
shot  of  the  animal  he  wanted.  Then  he  heard  a  sharp 
report  on  his  right,  followed  by  a  shout,  and,  turning,  saw 
Steve  riding  hard  towards  him." 

"YerVe  got  to  be  careful  in  thar,"  shouted  the 
hunter.  "  Mind  their  horns,  and  jest  see  that  when 
he  falls  the  others  don't  come  tumbling  on  ter  yer. 
Now,  let  him  have  it" 

Steve  was  within  a  few  feet  of  Jack  now,  for  the 
hunter  felt  anxious  for  the  safety  of  his  young  friend. 

"  I  never  seed  a  new  'un  with  more  grit,"  he  was  saying 
to  himself.  "  The  most  of  'em  would  be  content  to  ride 
up  behind,  and  fire  from  a  little  distance.  But  Carrots 
ain't  like  that.  I've  noticed  he's  a  way  of  doin'  a  thing 
proper  or  not  at  all.  He's  bound  on  making  a  point- 
blank  shot." 

That,  in  fact,  was  Jack's  intention,  and,  careless  of  the 
tossing  heads  about  him,  of  the  horns  turning  this  way 
and  that,  and  of  the  angry  bellows,  he  pressed  his  horse 
still  more  forward,  till  he  was  right  up  against  the  beast 
he  had  selected.  And  there,  jammed  in  the  press,  and 
going  hard  all  the  while,  our  hero  stood  up  in  his  stirrups, 
watched  for  the  right  moment,  and  fired  his  weapon, 
aiming  just  behind  the  moving  shoulder. 

"  Pull  out!"  shouted  Steve,  "  Pull  out  or  they'll  carry 
yer  along." 

To  retire  from  the  position  he  had  taken  up  was 
not  an  easy  task,  as  Jack  soon  found;  for  behind  him 
a  solid  wall  of  buffalo  swung  along,  while  the  animal  he 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  151 

had  fired  at  still  galloped  forward  as  if  it  had  received 
no  wound.  It  seemed,  indeed,  as  if  our  hero  had  failed. 
But  he  was  not  the  lad  to  give  in  easily.  Food  was 
wanted  for  the  camp,  and  this  was  the  very  first  oppor- 
tunity he  had  had  of  showing  his  prowess.  Once  more 
he  spurred  up  beside  the  beast  and  sent  a  second  bullet 
crashing  into  his  body.  And  then  there  was  a  sudden 
change  in  the  situation.  The  buffalo  dropped  like  a  log, 
while  the  animal  immediately  behind  tripped,  fell  on  his 
nose,  and  in  doing  so  knocked  the  legs  of  Jack's  mount 
from  under  him.  In  an  instant  there  was  a  scene  of  dire 
confusion.  Jack  went  flying  far  ahead,  over  the  ears  of 
his  horse,  while  Steve,  who  was  riding  just  behind  him 
by  then,  came  a  terrible  cropper.  Clouds  of  dust  were 
thrown  into  the  air,  and  dimly  seen  through  it  were 
struggling  beasts,  feet  lashing  here  and  there,  and 
frightened  eyes.  Never  had  Jack  heard  such  a  bel- 
lowing. It  seemed  as  if  all  the  buffalo  in  that  country 
were  round  him,  and  then,  as  suddenly,  they  were  gone. 
The  beasts  who  had  fallen  got  to  their  feet  and  charged 
madly  by  him,  leaving  him  alone  with  the  one  he  had 
shot,  stretched  just  a  foot  away  from  it,  while  farther 
behind  was  his  horse,  looking  at  him,  as  if  the  poor  beast 
still  wondered  what  had  happened.  As  for  Steve,  he 
lay  very  still,  one  boot  remaining  in  his  stirrup,  while  his 
well-trained  beast  stood  close  beside  him,  grazing,  as  if 
buffalo  had  never  existed,  and  as  if  such  a  thing  as  a 
catastrophe  had  never  occurred. 

Jack  clambered  to  his  feet  and  ran  to  Steve,  to 
find  him  conscious,  and  lying  with  eyes  wide  open. 

"Jest  lift  my  foot  out  of  the  stirrup,"  he  said  cheer- 
fully, but  in  a  voice  little  above  a  whisper.  "We  was 


152  Indian  and  Scout 

goin'  fast,  I  guess?  and  I  wasn't  lookin'  for  a  fall. 
Reckon  my  back's  badly  shook,  'cos  I  ain't  got  no 
power  over  my  legs.  Pain?  No.  I  ain't  any,  but 
it's  queer  fer  me  to  be  lying  here  unable  ter  move." 

Jack  gently  disengaged  his  foot  from  the  stirrup, 
and  made  his  friend  comfortable.  Then  he  turned  to 
look  about  him,  and  at  once  an  exclamation  escaped 
him. 

"Look!"  he  cried.  "They're  returning.  Something 
seems  to  have  caused  the  herd  to  swing  round,  and 
they're  chargin'  back  this  way." 

A  flush  came  to  the  hunter's  face  as  he  heard  the 
news,  and  with  an  obvious  effort  he  managed  to  turn 
his  head.  Then  he  called  to  Jack,  and  spoke  quietly. 

"Yer'd  best  be  going,"  he  said  earnestly.  "That 
mob's  less  than  half  a  mile  away,  and  ef  they're  coming 
along  as  they  was  a  few  minutes  ago,  they'll  be  here 
afore  yer  can  look  round.  Ef  they  find  yer  still  on 
this  spot  yer  best  friend  won't  know  yer  when  they're 
gone.  Best  git,  slippy.  So  long!" 

"And  you?"  asked  Jack,  casting  another  glance  to- 
wards the  herd,  which,  for  some  unexplained  reason  had 
undoubtedly  turned,  and  was  charging  back  over  the 
ground  it  had  so  recently  covered.  "And  what  about 
you,  Steve?"  he  asked.  "Would  your  best  friend  be 
able  to  recognize  you  any  better  than  mine  would  be?" 

"  Shucks !  Ye're  talkin',  and  wastin'  valuable  time," 
growled  Steve.  "  Yer  kin  see  it's  a  case  with  me.  I'm 
done  fer,  and  I  don't  mind  if  no  one  can  recognize 
me.  Ye  git,  and  precious  slippy.  Yer  ain't  got  too 
much  time  ter  clear  even  now." 

"And  desert  you,  the  man  who  has  been  so  friendly 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  153 

to  me,"  said  Jack.  "  Never !  I'll  do  my  best  to  carry 
him  off.  Can  you  hold  anything,  Steve?"  he  asked, 
kneeling  beside  the  helpless  hunter. 

"Yer  bet.     Give  us  yer  hand.     Thar.     So  long!" 

Steve  gripped  Jack's  hand  firmly,  and  then  thrust  him 
away.  "Didn't  I  tell  yer  to  be  goin'?"  he  cried  angrily. 
"The  chances  aer  ye'll  not  do  it  even  now.  Them 
beasts  is  coming  quicker'n  yer  kin  gallop.  Aer  yer 
a  fool?" 

"  Get  a  hold  round  my  neck,"  cried  Jack,  bending 
lower  over  him.  "Quickly!  You're  only  wasting  my 
time  and  yours  by  hesitating.  There!  Grip  hard. 
I'm  going  to  get  into  my  saddle." 

"Yer  ain't!  Git  as  quick  as  yer  kin,  and  leave  me 
to  it.  Ain't  I  warned  yer?  Jest  quit  foolin'?" 

Steve  blazed  out  at  Jack  as  the  latter  again  bent  over 
him,  and  with  an  emphatic  shake  of  his  head  refused  to 
do  as  our  hero  suggested.  For  the  little  scout  knew 
what  he  was  talking  about.  Already  it  was  doubtful 
whether  either  of  them  could  escape  that  rushing  herd, 
even  if  well  mounted.  But  if  he  in  his  unselfishness 
was  determined  not  to  ruin  Jack's  chances  of  escape, 
the  latter  was  equally  determined  not  to  leave  Steve 
to  be  trampled  into  the  dust  by  the  charging  buffalo. 
He  could  never  face  his  other  friends  if  he  returned 
with  such  a  tale  of  cowardice,  and  in  spite  of  Steve's 
obstinacy  he  made  up  his  mind  there  and  then  that  he 
would  save  him,  or  stand  and  face  the  beasts  by  his  side. 

"  Quit  foolin'  and  git  off!"  shouted  Steve  again.  "  Yer 
ain't  got  a  moment  to  lose." 

"  And  you  won't  take  a  grip  of  my  neck  and  let  me 
lift  you?"  asked  Jack. 


154  Indian  and  Scout 

"  I  won't.  I  ain't  goin'  ter  spoil  the  chances  of  one 
fer  the  sake  of  savin'  myself.  Git,  and  have  done  with 
the  talkin'." 

"  Then  you've  yourself  to  thank.  I'll  do  as  I  know  to 
be  proper." 

Jack  stooped  once  more  over  the  little  hunter,  and 
with  one  big  heave  threw  him  over  his  shoulder.  Then 
he  hurried  with  him  to  his  horse,  placed  the  injured  man 
in  front  of  the  saddle,  and  with  a  bound  was  up  behind 
him.  Leaving  Steve's  mount  to  follow  as  it  liked,  he 
dug  his  spurs  into  his  own  beast  and  sent  it  galloping 
forward.  Then  began  a  desperate  race,  for  already 
the  herd  was  within  a  hundred  yards,  sweeping  along 
over  the  plain  in  one  dense  mass,  which  stretched  for 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  on  either  side.  Indeed,  it  might 
have  been  more;  for  in  those  days,  before  railways  had 
come,  and  the  march  of  civilization  had  driven  the 
animals  away,  herds  of  twenty  and  more  thousand  buf- 
falo were  often  to  be  encountered.  Whatever  its  pro- 
portions, this  particular  herd  came  thundering  along,  a 
dense  mass  of  dust  flying  in  the  air  above  it,  while  the 
earth  beneath  trembled  with  the  thud  of  so  many  hoofs. 
It  was  as  much  as  a  horse  could  do  to  keep  in  front  of 
the  maddened  animals,  and  very  soon  Jack  found  his 
own  mount  flagging. 

"  We're  bound  to  go  down  before  them  if  I  can't  find 
my  way  to  one  side,"  he  thought.  "Let  me  see  how 
much  ahead  of  them  I  am." 

Gripping  Steve  firmly,  so  that  he  could  not  be  shaken 
off,  and  digging  his  knees  into  his  mount,  Jack  swung 
his  head  round  and  looked  behind  him.  There  was  a 
sea  of  tossing  manes,  of  flashing  eyes  and  terrible  horns, 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  155 

within  twenty  yards,  and  the  thunder  the  animals  made 
would  have  drowned  the  ordinary  voice.  And  on  either 
side  the  line  stretched  till  it  seemed  to  be  interminable. 
Then  Jack  looked  ahead,  and,  seeing  some  trees  growing 
on  a  rising  knoll  away  on  the  right,  he  swung  his  horse 
in  that  direction,  and  applied  his  spurs  again,  calling 
upon  the  noble  animal  to  make  one  last  effort.  As  for 
Steve,  our  hero  could  feel  him  wriggling,  and  even  heard 
his  voice  as  he  endeavoured  to  expostulate  with  his 
saviour.  But  the  words  came  jerkily.  The  movement 
of  the  horse  shook  the  breath  out  of  the  little  hunter's 
body. 

"We'll  do  it!  Stick  to  the  game!"  shouted  Jack, 
stretching  out  one  hand  to  pat  his  horse's  neck.  "  Now, 
a  little  more,  and  we  shall  be  there." 

But  safety  was  not  yet  accomplished,  and  for  some 
minutes  it  seemed  as  if  both  he  and  Steve  must  go 
down  before  the  mob  and  be  trampled  to  death,  when 
of  a  sudden  there  was  another  movement  amongst  the 
herd.  Imperceptibly  at  first,  and  then  with  a  swing, 
the  leaders  faced  away  from  the  rising  knoll  for  which 
Jack  had  been  aiming,  and,  pressing  their  fellows  on 
the  left  farther  to  that  side,  galloped  off  on  a  line  at 
a  tangent  to  that  which  had  previously  been  followed. 
This  unforeseen  movement  at  once  gave  the  fugitives 
an  advantage,  for  those  beasts  directly  behind  them 
and  farther  to  the  right  were  placed  even  farther  be- 
hind. 

"Forward!"  shouted  Jack,  applying  his  spurs  again. 
"  We've  just  a  chance  still." 

But  it  proved,  before  the  matter  was  ended,  to  be  a 
close  escape  for  both  of  them,  for  before  the  right-hand 


156  Indian  and  Scout 

margin  of  the  herd  was  reached  many  of  the  animals 
were  thundering  along  immediately  in  rear,  while  on 
the  very  outskirts  of  the  crowd  some  of  the  buffalo 
had  actually  passed  ahead  of  Jack.  He  watched  his 
opportunity  and  then  suddenly  swung  his  horse  well 
to  one  side,  pulling  him  in  a  minute  later  amongst  the 
trees  for  which  he  had  been  aiming.  And  there,  as  he 
dismounted  and  lifted  Steve  to  the  ground,  he  watched 
as  the  whole  herd  rushed  past  him,  watched  for  five 
minutes  as  the  thunder  of  their  hoofs  drummed  on  his 
ear.  Then  he  sat  down  to  rest  and  wipe  his  forehead. 

"  That  aer  the  nearest  thing  yer'll  ever  have,  nor  me 
either,"  said  Steve  suddenly,  when  the  noise  had  died 
down.  "Jack,  jest  pull  in  that  critter  and  place  him 
well  behind  the  bushes.  There  ain't  a  chance  of  our 
bein'  seen,  for  ye've  chose  a  proper  little  hollow,  and 
no  one  could  easily  see  us  from  outside  on  the  plain. 
Gee!  That  war  a  near  thing,  and  I  ain't  so  sure  that 
there  ain't  more  to  follow." 

Despite  his  helplessness  the  little  scout  managed  to 
prop  himself  up  against  a  tree,  and  lay  there  staring  out 
into  the  plain,  while  Jack  followed  out  his  instructions. 
Taking  the  horse,  he  led  him  amidst  the  trees  to  a  spot 
where  a  dense  mass  of  brushes  grew,  and  left  him  there 
to  blow  and  regain  his  wind.  As  for  Steve's  mount,  he 
had  fled  for  those  trees  at  the  very  first,  and,  being  un- 
encumbered by  a  rider,  had  reached  them  well  in  advance. 
Jack  slipped  his  reins  over  the  fork  of  a  tree  and  returned 
to  Steve. 

"  I  war  sayin'  we  was  mighty  lucky,"  exclaimed  the 
scout,  "and  I  war  advisin'  yer  to  keep  well  down  and 
hide  the  horses.  Do  yer  know  the  reason?" 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  157 

Jack  shook  his  head.  He  was  beginning  to  wonder 
if  the  fall  had  in  some  manner  upset  Steve's  reason  as 
well  as  damaging  his  back. 

"  Wall,  I'll  tell  yer.  What  sent  them  varmints  back 
on  their  trail  so  onexpectedly?"  he  asked.  "  Yer  don't 
know,  and  can't  guess.  But  I  had  a  notion  from  the 
very  fust,  and  I  reckoned  that  ef  we  got  clear  of  the 
herd  we'd  have  somethin'  else  to  face.  It  was  Injuns, 
Jack.  Buffalo  don't  face  about  fer  nothin'.  I've  seen 
twenty  and  more  hunters  trying  to  turn  a  pack  of  'em 
smaller  than  this  here  by  a  heap.  They've  fired  their 
revolvers  into  the  face  of  the  herd,  and  shouted,  and  rid 
across.  But  it  ain't  done  nothin'.  The  beasts  has  come 
along  solid  all  the  same.  But  when  thar's  a  hundred 
painted  Injun  varmints  a-shriekin'  in  front  and  shootin' 
their  arrows,  why,  even  buffalo'll  turn  then." 

«  But "  exclaimed  Jack,  his  eyes  wide  open  with 

amazement. 

"  Yer  didn't  see  any  of  'em,"  cried  Steve.  "  No  more 
yer  did,  nor  me  neither  at  first.  The  dust  covered  every- 
thing. But  jest  you  look  thar." 

He  pointed  after  the  herd,  and,  following  that  direc- 
tion, Jack's  eyes  fell  upon  a  number  of  horsemen  who 
must  have  swept  by  the  spot  where  he  and  Steve  lay, 
directly  in  wake  of  the  buffalo. 

"Indians!"  he  cried  in  amazement. 

"  Them's  the  red-skinned  varmints,  and  a  fine  time 
they'll  give  us  ef  we  drop  into  their  hands.  Aer  yer 
sure  ye've  hid  up  them  hosses?" 

"Certain.  I  couldn't  make  out  what  you  meant  by 
giving  such  directions,  and  began  to  wonder  whether 
you  were  all  right  in  your  head.  But  I  hid  the 


158  Indian  and  Scout 

horses  right  enough.  No  one  would  see  them  from 
outside." 

"  Then  we're  right  fer  the  moment,"  said  Steve,  "  but 
it'll  be  only  fer  the  moment.  Them  varmint'll  see  the 
beasts  we  killed,  and'll  know  in  a  minute  as  white  men 
ha'  done  it,  'cos  they're  shot  with  bullets.  That'll  tell 
'em  we  were  behind  the  herd  before  it  turned.  They'll 
be  proper  bothered  after  that,  'cos  there  ain't  a  trace 
left  now  to  follow.  Every  mark  has  been  stamped  out 
of  the  ground.  But  that  won't  beat  'em.  They'll  send 
out  parties  to  ride  round  till  they  strike  our  tracks,  and 
a  glance'll  tell  'em  whether  we  were  goin'  or  com  in'. 
Wall,  they'll  see,  in  course,  that  we  ain't  rid  away.  Then 
they'll  set  to  ter  find  us.  And  as  far  as  I  can  see  thar 
ain't  another  likely  spot,  barrin'  these  trees." 

The  outlook  did  indeed  appear  to  be  anything  but 
rosy;  for,  as  Jack  kneeled  amidst  the  trees  beside  his 
injured  friend  and  looked  out  into  the  plain,  he  could 
distinguish  fully  fifty  Indians,  all  mounted,  and  slowly 
returning  from  following  the  buffalo.  Had  he  but  known 
the  men  were  part  of  a  tribe  which  had  camped  three 
miles  away  in  a  hollow  which  hid  them  completely,  and, 
having  ridden  from  a  direction  the  opposite  of  that  from 
which  Jack  and  his  friends  were  making,  neither  party 
had  seen  the  other.  It  was  the  maddened  herd  of 
buffalo  which  had  first  disturbed  the  Indians,  and,  find- 
ing it  probable  that  they  would  charge  right  across  their 
own  camping-ground,  they  had  turned  out  in  force,  and 
by  dint  of  much  shouting  had  contrived  to  stem  the 
rush,  and  in  the  end  to  cause  the  whole  herd  to  face 
about  And  up  to  now  they  were  still  ignorant  of  the 
presence  of  white  people.  A  minute  later,  however,  there 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  159 

was  a  shout  out  on  the  plain,  and  a  batch  of  the  Indians 
galloped  across  to  the  buffalo  which  Jack  had  shot. 

"In  course  they  seed  it.  I  knew  they  would,"  growled 
Steve.  "  It  ain't  likely  that  an  Injun  could  miss  a  beast 
like  that.  And  ain't  they  jest  talkin'!  Guess  they'll 
know  in  less  than  a  minute  that  they  ain't  the  only 
people  hereabouts,  and  that  thar's  scalps  within  dis- 
tance that's  worth  the  taking." 

At  any  other  time  Jack  could  have  watched  with 
interest  as  the  Indians  gathered  round  the  fallen  buffalo 
and  inspected  the  carcass.  For  their  movements  were 
picturesque,  to  say  the  least  of  it.  But  he  had  heard 
enough  already  to  prove  to  him  that  these  bands  still 
roving  the  plains  were  just  as  implacable  enemies  of  the 
white  men  as  their  fathers  had  ever  been,  while  he  knew 
it  to  be  a  fact  that  scores  of  unhappy  people  making 
across  the  plains  for  California  had  been  ruthlessly 
slaughtered  by  the  red  man.  If  he  had  any  doubt  of 
the  Indians  he  was  watching  it  was  dispelled  in  an 
instant.  A  fierce  shout  suddenly  broke  the  silence. 

"Didn't  I  say  so?"  cried  Steve,  a  grim  look  on  his 
face.  "  Them  varmint  aer  hit  upon  the  truth,  and  they 
know  well  that  white  men  has  been  after  them  buffalo 
within  this  last  hour.  Thar  they  go  in  two  parties, 
while  that  chap  ridin'  away  by  hisself  is  goin'  to  the 
camp  to  bring  along  the  others.  Seems  to  me  we  shall 
have  the  hull  crowd  of  'em  about  us  afore  many  minutes. 
Lad,  seems  almost  a  pity  you  troubled  to  bring  me  out." 

The  little  scout  smiled  at  Jack,  and  held  out  a  hand. 

"  Yer  ain't  no  tenderfoot,"  he  said  huskily.  "  I've 
been  round  about  the  plains  boy  and  man,  and  I've  seen 
a  sight  of  gallant  actions,  but  they  was  mostly  the 


160  Indian  and  Scout 

work  of  experienced  men,  not  of  young  chaps  new  from 
the  towns.  Jack,  I've  marked  it  up  fer  yer.  Ef  we 
squeeze  out  of  this,  t'others  shall  know,  and  Steve  won't 
forget  what  he's  owing.  Now,  lad,  jest  roll  me  over  and 
pull  off  my  shirt.  Thar's  a  bit  of  beef  in  my  saddle 
bag,  and  ef  yer  cut  a  hunk  of  fat  from  it  it'll  do  to  rub 
into  the  back.  Seems  the  spine's  a  bit  shook  up,  and  is 
already  better.  Gee,  ef  I  can't  move  a  toe  now!" 

He  smiled  grimly  as  he  pointed  to  one  boot,  and 
showed  our  hero  that  he  could  move  it.  Then  he  lay 
back  against  the  tree  and  watched  the  enemy  eagerly. 
As  for  Jack,  he  rubbed  Steve's  back  vigorously  till  the 
scout  declared  that  he  was  better.  Then,  seizing  his 
gun,  he  lay  down  to  watch,  wondering  how  long  it 
would  take  the  Indians  to  find  them,  and  whether,  in 
that  event,  he  and  Steve  could  hope  to  escape. 

Nor  was  it  long  before  his  mind  was  filled  with  mis- 
giving. As  the  shades  of  evening  drew  in,  a  party  of 
Indians  came  to  a  halt  a  mile  from  their  hiding  place, 
and  pointed  eagerly  in  their  direction. 

"  Didn't  I  say  so,"  grov/led  Steve,  kneeling  up,  for  his 
strength  was  fast  returning.  "  Them  varmints  are  hit 
on  our  trail,  and'll  be  along  in  half  a  jiffy.  Jack,  thar 
ain't  no  use  denyin'  it,  you  and  me  ain't  got  half  a 
show.  Them  critters  is  bound  to  take  us." 

Let  the  reader  place  himself  for  one  brief  moment 
in  the  position  in  which  our  hero  so  suddenly  and 
unexpectedly  found  himself.  There  he  was,  young,  full 
of  life  and  vigour,  with  his  outlook  upon  the  world 
rendered  wonderfully  more  attractive  by  the  friendship 
and  companionship  of  Steve  and  his  brother  scouts, 
face  to  face  with  a  danger  which  the  experienced  Indian 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  161 

fighter  beside  him  assured  him  was  great — so  great  that 
death  must  almost  inevitably  follow.  The  announce- 
ment was  enough  to  blanch  the  cheek  of  a  man,  let 
alone  a  young  fellow  of  his  age.  It  was  enough  to 
unnerve  the  boldest.  Yet  Jack  did  not  quake,  though, 
to  speak  the  truth,  his  heart  set  to  work  hammering 
at  his  ribs  as  it  never  seemed  to  have  done  before. 
He  even  feared  that  that  rat-a-tat-tat  in  his  ears,  the 
thud  of  his  heart  drumming  so  loudly  within  his  breast, 
would  be  heard  by  the  enemy,  would  reach  the  Indians 
and  hasten  the  end  at  which  Steve  so  bluntly  hinted. 

"  Bound  to  take  us,"  he  repeated,  whispering  the 
words. 

"Ay,  bound  to.  That  is,  as  fer  as  I  can  see.  I've 
been  in  many  a  ruction  with  the  critters,  and  I  don't 
say  as  I  ain't  never  been  as  badly  up  agin  it  as  I  am 
now.  But,  yer  see,  sarcumstances  is  that  bad.  It  ain't 
as  if  this  here  wood  was  a  big  one,  and  we  could  slip 
away  through  the  trees,  giving  them  varmint  their  work 
to  follow.  It  ain't  big.  It's  small,  and,  'sides,  thar's 
these  legs  of  mine.  Gee!  I've  never  felt  the  same 
before.  It  ain't  often  Steve  ain't  able  to  get  about  and 
lift  his  shooter.  It  seems  queer  too.  Here's  me,  used 
all  my  life  to  carryin'  a  gun,  and  findin'  as  it's  saved 
my  life  many  a  time.  Wall,  here  I  am,  and  I  guess  an 
Injun  kid  could  come  right  in  and  scalp  me.  It  aer 
enough  to  make  a  man  swear." 

"  I  will  protect  you.  You  have  forgotten  that  I  am 
here." 

Suddenly,  it  seemed  to  Jack,  the  thumping  of  his 
heart  stopped.  A  moment  or  two  before  the  drumming 
in  his  ears  had  been  annoying,  to  say  the  least  of  it. 

(0179)  11 


162  Indian  and  Scout 

But  now  the  trouble  was  gone.  He  looked  steadily  at 
Steve,  gripped  his  rifle,  and  then  turned  his  attention 
to  the  enemy. 

"My!"  Steve  gave  vent  to  the  exclamation  gently- 
In  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  with  his  eyes  fixed 
on  the  deadly  Indian  enemy  out  on  the  plain,  Jack's 
recent  heroism  had  escaped  his  memory.  He  forgot  for 
the  moment  that  the  lad  had  shown  unusual  grit,  and 
looked  upon  him  as  a  city  lad,  brave  perhaps,  but  as 
helpless  as  he  himself  in  such  a  dilemma.  Then  he 
suddenly  stole  a  sideways  look  at  Jack,  to  find  the  lad 
watching  the  enemy  coolly,  critically,  noting  every 
movement.  His  face  was  sunburned  and  held  a  healthy 
colour.  There  was  no  trace  of  nervousness  about  him, 
and,  to  Steve's  wonder,  there  was  an  entire  absence  of 
excitement.  Jack  was  cool,  and  wore  a  determined 
appearance,  a  set  of  his  chin  which  was  strange  to  him 
and  to  Steve. 

"My!"  exclaimed  the  hunter  again.  "Ef  I  don't 
believe  as  ye're  ready  to  tackle  all  them  varmint  single- 
handed.  Wall,  it  do  do  an  old  hunter  like  me  good  ter 
see  sech  grit.  I've  knowed  green  'uns  face  fire  for  the 
fust  time  and  seem  ter  like  it.  I've  knowed  old  hands 
get  that  fidgety  when  the  bullets  got  whistling  that  they 
wasn't  able  to  set  or  to  stand  still.  And  agin  I've  seed 
old  'uns  and  new  'uns  get  a  sudden  fit  of  funks,  and  then 
their  chances  ain't  worth  buyin'.  Reckon,  Jack,  yer 
ain't  the  one  to  go  under  without  a  struggle.  Ef  them 
critters  want  to  give  yer  knocks,  you  aer  goin'  ter  re- 
turn 'em." 

The  idea  tickled  the  humour  of  the  little  hunter,  and 
in  spite  of  the  dangerous  proximity  of  the  Indians^  in 


A  Buffalo  Hunt  163 

spite  of  the  death  which  was  so  perilously  near,  he 
grinned,  and  once  more  gave  expression  to  his  amaze- 
ment "My!"  he  whispered.  "Ef  that  don't  take  it!" 

"  H-h-h-ush !  They're  moving.  What  are  they  going 
to  do?" 

Jack  held  out  a  hand  and  touched  Steve,  drawing  his 
attention  to  the  enemy.  And  then,  for  five  minutes,  the 
two  lay  as  still  as  mice.  Right  before  their  eyes  were 
the  Indians,  and  during  those  long  minutes  Jack  had  an 
opportunity  of  inspecting  them  thoroughly,  of  watching 
their  behaviour  in  their  natural  haunts,  for  as  yet  the 
band  of  men  was  unconscious  of  his  and  of  Steve's 
presence.  At  any  other  time  he  would  have  been  filled 
with  admiration  and  with  wonder,  for  before  him  were 
men  who,  in  their  own  particular  way,  were  as  fine,  even 
finer,  horsemen  than  were  the  hunters.  True,  time  was 
when  a  horse  was  unknown  to  the  Indian  of  the  plain, 
when  he  looked  upon  it  as  some  fearful  beast  to  be 
carefully  avoided.  But  once  the  animal  had  been  im- 
ported to  the  country  he  had  been  quick  to  realize  its 
utility.  And  now  he  rode,  barebacked  for  the  most 
part,  sitting  his  mount  with  that  easy  swing  of  the  body 
which  shows  a  born  horseman.  It  was  fine  to  see  the 
band  of  redskins  grouped  about  one  another,  to  watch 
as  the  younger  men  occasionally  galloped  from  the 
group,  only  to  bring  their  mounts  to  the  rightabout 
with  amazing  swiftness.  And  then  their  ease  of  mount- 
ing, the  swiftness  with  which  they  slipped  from  the 
backs  of  their  horses  and  vaulted  again  to  their  seats 
was  a  revelation  not  to  be  experienced  even  on  a  ranch. 

"The  critters!"  exclaimed  Steve.  "  Ef  they  could 
shoot  jest  as  well  as  they  kin  ride,  then  thar  wouldn't 


164  Indian  and  Scout 

always  be  so  much  chance  fer  us.  But  this  ain't  ter  be 
a  case  of  shootin'.  It's  tracking  that's  wanted,  and  whar 
that's  the  case  thar  ain't  no  one  to  touch  an  Injun 
varmint.  I  tell  yer,  Jack,  we're  clear  up  agin  it.  We 
ain't  got  half  a  show.  As  I  looks  at  it,  we  can't  get 
away  from  this  wood,  while  them  critters  can't  manage 
to  miss  us.  Wall,  that  means  jest  one  thing.  They're 
jest  bound  ter  take  us." 


CHAPTER   XI 

Surrounded  by  Indians 

JACK  and  Steve  lay  in  the  narrow  belt  of  trees  for 
another  half-hour  before  either  opened  their  lips  again. 
For  the  hunter  had  lifted  a  warning  finger,  and  had 
enjoined  silence  upon  his  companion.  And  as  they 
lay  there,  the  band  of  Indians  they  had  seen  collected 
outside  on  the  plain  was  increased  by  the  addition  of 
some  two  dozen  more,  who  rode  up  from  another 
quarter. 

"  Guess  they're  a  trifle  bothered,"  said  Steve  at  last, 
making  an  effort  and  managing  to  kneel;  for  up  till 
then  his  lower  limbs  had  been  practically  powerless. 
"  Yer  see,  the  varmint  they've  sent  riding  round  has 
picked  up  our  traces  from  the  point  where  we  left  the 
wagon  this  mornin',  and  they've  followed  'em  right 
away  to  the  point  whar  we  struck  the  herd  of  buffalo. 
They  ain't  seen  no  marks  goin'  back  agin,  and  so  they 
concludes  that  we're  hid  up  in  this  here  belt  of  trees. 
Wall,  now,  they  ain't  sartin." 

"And  why?"  asked  Jack,  his  voice  lowered  to  a 
whisper,  while  his  eyes  were  glued  upon  the  Indians. 
For  he  was  still  a  novice  where  these  wild  men  of  the 
plains  were  concerned,  and  what  he  knew  already  had 


165 


166  Indian  and  Scout 

been  picked  up  by  listening  to  the  scouts'  tales  at 
night,  as  they  sat  round  the  fire. 

"'Cos  them  buffalo  aer  done  us  a  right  down  good 
turn,"  said  Steve. 

"Them  skunks  out  thar  has  theirselves  to  thank  fer 
that,  for  they  turned  the  herd  and  sent  it  flying  into 
our  faces.  And  them  buffalo  fairly  smashed  out  every 
trace  we  made  coming  into  these  trees.  Wall,  now, 
supposin'  we  was  still  with  the  herd.  Supposin'  our 
horses  happened  to  have  been  extry  fresh,  and  not  tired 
after  a  day  of  it,  they'd  likely  as  not  have  managed 
to  keep  ahead  of  them  chargin'  beasts,  and,  ef  they  did, 
we  should  be  miles  away  by  now,  and  still  leadin'  'em. 
That  aer  the  difficulty.  I  'low  as  it's  a  small  one,  and 
won't  take  over  long  fixin'.  But  thar  it  is,  and  them 
critters  has  to  come  right  in  here  afore  they're  sartin 
what's  happened.  That  aer  a  movement  clear  agin  their 
principles." 

"Why?"  asked  Jack,  wondering  at  the  statement;  for 
it  seemed  hardly  probable  that,  when  there  were  at  least 
thirty  of  the  enemy  to  each  one  of  themselves,  they 
would  hesitate  to  rush  the  belt  of  trees  and  kill  those 
lying  within. 

"  Why,  I'll  tell  yer.  Them  varmint  out  thar  aer  the 
cruellest  and  bravest  men  as  ever  stepped  the  airth. 
Their  trainin'  teaches  'em  to  kill  an  enemy,  and  never 
to  go  down  theirselves  ef  they  can  help  it.  Ef  a  man's 
killed,  wall,  guess  to  them  redskins  it's  'cos  he's  a  fool, 
and  ain't  been  cute  enough.  That's  why  yer  don't  git 
an  Injun  creepin'  to  a  place  like  this  when  he  may  likely 
enough  get  his  skull  cracked  afore  he's  seen  so  much 
as  a  haar  of  the  enemy.  See?" 


Surrounded  by  Indians  167 

Jack  did,  and  for  a  while  pondered  the  matter.  Some- 
how or  other,  in  spite  of  his  knowledge  that  he  and 
Steve  stood  in  very  imminent  danger  of  losing  their 
lives,  he  felt  no  trepidation,  no  fear  for  himself,  but 
only  a  great  longing  to  beat  the  enemy  out  there  on 
the  plain.  As  long  as  the  white  man  fills  his  present 
position  in  the  world,  and  retains  his  wonderful  inde- 
pendence, he  will,  without  doubt,  face  odds  with  deter- 
mination and  even  some  amount  of  pleasure.  A  strong 
fight  has  always  appealed  to  men  of  the  British  race, 
and  to  those  of  America,  for  the  truth  of  which  state- 
ment one  hardly  need  turn  to  the  roll  of  history 
compiled  by  each  of  them.  There  are  examples  of 
heroic  struggles,  where  few  were  opposed  to  many,  all 
through  the  years  that  have  passed,  and  some  are  so 
notorious  that  one  always  carries  them  in  one's  memory. 
With  that  fine  record  to  stimulate  him,  Jack,  too,  looked 
to  the  coming  contest  not  with  fear,  but  with  a  certain 
amount  of  pleasure.  His  pulses  were  beating  fast,  all 
his  senses  were  keenly  alert,  and  as  he  stared  out  at 
the  Indians  his  wits  were  working  quickly  in  the  endea- 
vour to  discover  some  scheme  whereby  he  and  Steve 
might  outwit  them. 

"Ef  these  plaguey  legs  of  mine'll  only  continue  to 
improve  we'll  put  up  a  fight  that'll  astonish  them  var- 
mint," growled  Steve  at  last.  "Yer  kin  see,  they're 
havin'  a  palaver,  and  in  a  bit,  no  doubt,  the  chiefs'll 
call  upon  the  venturesome  young  men  to  investigate 
this  here  place.  It'll  be  nigh  dark  then,  which  should 
give  us  a  bit  of  a  chance.  Aer  yer  got  yer  knife, 
lad?" 

Jack's  hand  dropped  on  it,  for  since  he  had  joined  the 


168  Indian  and  Scout 

scouts  he  had  carried  the  same  weapons  as  themselves. 
And  a  large  hunting-knife  was  part  of  his  outfit.  "  It's 
here,  he  said.  "  Right  in  my  belt." 

"  Wall,  ye'll  want  it.  Them  critters  as  comes  has  got 
ter  be  silenced  without  so  much  as  a  sound,  and  ef  yer've 
any  love  fer  yer  own  scalp  ye'll  put  away  all  sorts  of 
skeary  notions  yer  may  have  had.  A  man  sarcumstanced 
same  as  we  aer  ain't  got  a  look  in  ef  he's  too  thin- 
skinned  to  fight  fer  his  life  as  best  he  kin.  To  live 
through  to-night  and  keep  our  haar  we've  got  to  kill 
some  of  them  critters.  And  a  huntin'-knife  aer  the  only 
weapon.  Ef  we  was  to  use  a  revolver,  shucks !  it'd  give 
the  show  away.  They'd  be  on  to  us  in  a  moment. 
Jest  look  at  them  young  bloods!" 

Out  in  the  open  there  was  a  good  deal  of  commotion 
at  this  moment,  and  voices,  which  before  had  been 
inaudible,  came  to  the  ears  of  the  two  hiding  amidst 
the  trees  and  underwood.  It  seemed  that  there  was 
an  altercation  amongst  the  Indians,  for  there  was  shout- 
ing, while  some  of  the  men  urged  their  horses  into  the 
centre  of  the  circle  which  had  been  formed,  and  brand- 
ished their  weapons. 

"Didn't  I  say  as  much?"  whispered  Steve.  "Them's 
the  young  men  of  the  tribe,  and  sense  they  ain't  ac- 
counted much  till  they've  took  a  hull  heap  of  scalps, 
and  has  done  something  extry  brave,  why,  in  course 
they're  fer  rushin'  this  place  agin  the  advice  of  the  older 
and  cautious  ones.  Ye'll  see  as  they'll  allow  two  or 
three  to  try  their  hands." 

"  But  why  give  them  a  chance?"  asked  Jack  suddenly. 
"While  they're  discussing  the  matter  we  might  get  on 
to  the  horses  and  make  a  dash  in  the  opposite  direction." 


Surrounded  by  Indians          169 

Steve's  grim  face  showed  for  a  moment  a  grin  of 
contempt.  Then  the  lines  softened  as  he  regarded  our 
hero. 

"YeVe  got  grit  right  enough,  Carrots,"  he  said,  "but 
yer  ain't  seen  much  of  them  varmint.  Do  yer  think 
as  they  ain't  thought  of  a  dash?  Reckon  an  Injun 
don't  forget  nothin'.  There's  men  posted  all  round  this 
belt  of  trees,  and  mounted  on  the  best  bosses.  'Sides, 
ef  it  did  come  to  a  rush,  our  mounts  are  that  tired  they'd 
break  up  afore  we'd  galloped  five  miles.  Then,  too, 
ye're  forgettin'  my  condition.  I've  never  had  sich  a 
thing  happen  to  me  afore,  though  I've  seen  a  sight  of 
men  thrown  heavily,  and  unable  to  move  for  weeks. 
Yes,  and  some  of  'em  never  got  back  the  use  of  their 
legs.  With  me  it's  jest  temporary.  Reckon  the  jerk 
threw  something  outer  gear  for  a  while.  But  it's 
mendin'  fast,  and  in  a  few  hours,  perhaps,  I'll  be  able 
to  mount  and  ride." 

The  same  grim  look  came  over  the  injured  scout's 
face,  as  much  as  to  say  that  when  those  few  hours  had 
passed  circumstances  would  make  further  use  of  his 
limbs  out  of  the  question.  For  Steve  had  not  the 
smallest  doubt  that  nothing  but  a  miracle  could  save 
them.  He  became  silent  for  some  few  moments,  while 
his  weather-beaten  face  crinkled  in  all  directions,  show- 
ing big  lines  across  the  forehead,  which  indicated  the 
fact  that  he  was  thinking  deeply.  Meanwhile  the  ex- 
citement amongst  the  Indians  grew  even  greater.  To 
Jack,  as  he  watched  them,  it  seemed  at  first  as  if  they 
would  come  to  blows,  and  that  they  were  quarrelling 
seriously.  Then  the  noise  died  down  a  little,  while 
five  men  slipped  from  their  ponies. 


1 70  Indian  and  Scout 

"Them's  the  lads  as  has  been  chosen  to  investigate 
this  here  place,"  said  Steve  grimly,  "  and  it  won't  be 
long  afore  they're  sticking  their  ugly,  painted  faces  in 
amongst  the  trees.  Look  ye  here,  Jack,  I've  been 
thmkin'  somethin'.  Yer  was  rash  to  stay  back  there 
and  haul  me  away  from  the  front  of  that  'ere  herd 
of  buffalo,  'cos  ef  ye'd  rid  fer  it  ye'd  have  got  clear 
yerself,  without  a  doubt,  and  could  have  reached  our 
mates  with  the  start  ye'd  have  had.  It  war  a  brave 
act,  and  I  don't  say  as  I  ain't  grateful.  I  am  precious 
grateful,  but  I'm  vexed  to  think  as  my  poor  life  are 
been  saved  jest  fer  a  few  minutes  at  the  expense  of 
yours.  Jack,  you  aer  young.  The  world's  dead  ahead 
of  yer,  and,  ef  I  ain't  makin'  an  error,  ye've  somethin' 
real  serious  to  live  fer.  But  fer  me,  life  ain't  that  rosy. 
I  don't  say  as  I  ain't  grateful  to  Him  as  give  it  to  me; 
but  I've  had  my  day,  and  am  ready  to  go  when  the 
call  comes.  Yer  see,  I've  lost  wife  and  childer,  and 
when  that's  the  case  a  man  don't  kinder  stick  so  fast  to 
this  world.  But  I  war  sayin'  as  ye've  got  somethin' 
real  good  to  live  fer.  And  I  are  been  thinkin'  about 
them  'ere  red -skinned  varmints.  There  aer  jest  a 
chance  as  yer  might  escape.  Ef  them  critters  was 
all  engaged  in  watchin'  the  young  bloods  creepin'  in 
here,  I  'low  that  a  man  on  a  fair  horse  might  manage 
to  steal  through  the  fellers  hanging  around  outside, 
and  gallop  to  his  friends.  Now,  my  horse  ain't  had 
the  doin'  that  yours  has.  Yer  jest  wait  a  bit,  and 
when  I  tell  yer,  creep  back  and  mount.  When  them 
young  critters  aer  close  handy  to  these  here  trees,  yer 
slip  out  t'other  side.  It'll  be  dark  then,  and  the  chance 
aer  worth  takin'." 


Surrounded  by  Indians          171 

For  the  usually  silent  Steve  the  speech  was  an  extra- 
ordinarily long  one,  and  once  he  had  finished  he  let  his 
head  drop  back  against  the  tree  trunk  with  a  sigh  of 
relief.  For,  after  all,  even  though  a  man's  outlook  on 
life  may  have  faded  a  little,  he  still  clings  to  it.  And 
to  urge  a  comrade  to  escape,  and  leave  one  to  certain 
death  at  the  hands  of  such  miscreants,  needed  not  a 
little  fortitude.  Even  as  Steve  faced  the  consequences 
of  his  advice  to  Jack,  he  shuddered  just  a  little.  Some- 
how or  other  it  required  greater  courage  to  face  a 
lonely  death,  with  no  comrade  at  hand  to  bear  him 
company. 

"Ain't  yer  got  ready?"  he  asked,  a  minute  later, 
hearing  no  movement  from  Jack.  "Them  varmint  aer 
creepin'  nearer,  and  the  night  aer  fallin'  fast.  Reckon 
ye'd  best  be  movin'." 

Then,  as  he  turned  his  head  to  look  at  his  com- 
rade, a  gasp  of  surprise  escaped  the  hunter.  For  Jack 
had  not  moved  an  inch.  He  lay  there,  hidden  from 
the  enemy,  behind  a  tree,  his  hunting-knife  gripped 
firmly  in  his  hand.  Even  there,  in  the  gloom  cast  by 
the  branches,  it  was  possible  to  observe  his  face,  and 
Steve  noticed  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  a  look  of 
dogged  determination.  For  till  that  day  Jack  had 
shown  his  new  comrades,  with  the  exception  of  Tom, 
his  lighter  side,  his  merry,  good-hearted  nature.  He 
was  whistling  or  laughing  or  singing  the  day  long,  and 
at  night  listening  to  their  hunter  yarns  with  an  interest 
there  was  no  denying.  Suddenly,  as  it  were,  he  had 
developed  from  a  boy  into  a  stern  man.  There  was 
no  mistaking  his  expression. 

"Why!"  gasped  Steve.     "Yer  ain't  moved.    Jack,  ef 


172  Indian  and  Scout 

yer  don't  get  away  to  them  bosses  there  won't  be  any 
ridin'  at  all.  Jest  git,  lad,  and  make  no  bones  about  the 
matter." 

"And  leave  you?  Not  much!"  answered  our  hero 
doggedly,  just  as  he  had  done  earlier  on  when  Steve 
ordered  him  to  ride  and  leave  him  to  be  crushed  by 
the  buffalo.  "  Look  ye  here,  Steve,  when  I  rode  from 
camp  with  you  this  mornin',  reckon  you  was  in  com- 
mand, 'cos  I  ain't  no  great  idea  of  huntin'.  But  you're 
hurt.  You  ain't  no  longer  able  to  command,  so  I  guess 
I  have  to  take  the  job  over.  I  ain't  goin'  to  move 
away.  You  can  take  that  as  final." 

"  Yer  ain't  goin' !" 

"  H-h-hush!  They'll  hear  us.  Lie  quiet!"  commanded 
Jack  sternly. 

"  Jest  give  us  a  fist,  lad.  I  ain't  angry.  A  man  knows 
when  he  meets  a  real  man,  and  I  ain't  quarrelin'  with  yer 
for  it.  My!  Ef  we  get  outer  this  thar'll  be  somethin' 
to  tell  the  boys!" 

Something  suspiciously  like  a  sob  of  relief  escaped 
Steve  as  he  lay  back  against  the  tree,  and  none  but 
the  most  heartless  would  have  scoffed  at  him.  This 
grim,  courageous  little  hunter,  who  had  lived  his  life 
out  on  the  plains  or  in  the  forests,  and  had  become 
innured  to  privation  and  exposure,  was,  after  all,  just 
like  any  other  man  possessed  of  energy  and  determina- 
tion. The  feeling  that  he  was  useless,  the  very  strange- 
ness of  being  in  such  a  condition,  caused  the  most  abject 
depression  of  spirits,  while  the  relief  of  finding  that  he 
had  a  true  comrade  beside  him  was  almost  too  much 
for  him.  But  the  determination  of  the  little  man  soon 
conquered  any  passing  weakness,  and  in  a  few  moments 


Surrounded  by  Indians  173 

he  was  himself  again,  the  crafty  scout,  who  had  fought 
the  Indian  enemy  many  a  time. 

"Gee!  Ef  I  could  get  these  here  legs  o'  mine  to 
move  sensible  like,"  he  whispered.  "  But  look  ye  here, 
Jack;  get  on  yer  knees  behind  the  tree  and  wait  for 
'em.  Don't  so  much  as  move  an  eyelid  till  them  var- 
mint is  close.  Then  strike.  It  aer  their  lives  or 
ourn." 

It  was  indeed  a  case  of  self-defence,  of  taking  life 
to  save  life,  and  though  our  hero's  natural  gentleness 
caused  him  to  shrink  from  the  ordeal  before  him,  yet 
the  fact  that  he  found  himself  suddenly  called  upon  to 
defend  a  helpless  comrade  made  him  brace  himself  for 
the  contest,  and  set  his  lips  firmly  together,  while  a 
quiet  determination  came  over  him  to  protect  Steve,  and 
to  come  out  of  the  conflict  alive.  No  man  likes  to  be 
beaten.  Jack  did  not  differ  from  the  average  indi- 
vidual. 

"  Separating"  whispered  Steve  after  a  few  moments. 
"  They  reckon  as  they've  got  ter  investigate  every  corner 
of  the  place,  so  they're  each  of  'em  taking  a  plot. 
That'll  suit  us  better  than  ef  they  came  all  together. 
Five  of  the  varmints.  Ef  I  war  fit  and  able  to  use 
these  here  legs,  and  thar  warn't  a  tarnal  heap  of  their 
brothers  I'd  tackle  that  lot  single-handed,  and  afore 
breakfast  too.  It  ud  jest  kinder  give  me  an  ap- 
petite." 

As  the  moment  for  action  arrived  the  little  scout's 
spirits  revived  wonderfully.  He  was  a  man  who  had 
come  through  many  a  fight  with  the  Indians,  and  had 
learned  never  to  give  up  the  contest  until  he  was 
actually  beaten.  And  now,  with  such  a  stanch  com- 


174  Indian  and  Scout 

rade  as  Jack  beside  him,  he  began  to  look  upon  their 
chances  as  perhaps  not  altogether  hopeless. 

"  I've  knowed  wonderful  escapes,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  And  I  reckon  a  chap  like  this  here  Carrots  ain't  goin' 
under  so  easy.  After  showin'  grit  same  as  he  has  done, 
he  desarves  to  pull  through,  and,  by  the  'tarnal,  I'll  help 
him." 

Stretched  full  length  on  the  ground,  with  the  branches 
of  trees  overhanging  them,  and  brushwood  thickly  scat- 
tered about,  Jack  and  his  friend  watched  the  approach 
of  the  five  young  Indians  in  a  grim  silence.  Where 
they  lay  it  was  now  almost  dark,  so  that  they  could 
barely  see  one  another.  But  outside,  in  the  open,  it 
was  still  possible  to  perceive  objects,  though  the  band 
of  Indians  had  now  become  blotted  out  by  the  falling 
gloom.  In  the  gathering  dusk  five  figures  could  be 
seen  advancing  on  hands  and  knees,  their  eyes  fixed 
on  the  trees  in  front  of  them.  Ten  yards  divided  each 
man  from  his  comrade,  and  as  they  came  nearer  this 
distance  was  increased.  At  length  they  reached  the 
very  edge  of  the  trees,  and  so  that  all  should  enter  at 
the  same  moment,  the  one  who  arrived  first  lay  on  his 
face  and  signalled  to  the  others. 

"Yer  hear  the  critters?"  asked  Steve  in  a  tense 
whisper,  putting  his  lips  to  Jack's  ears.  "That  'ere 
aer  the  bark  of  a  fox,  and  it  tells  'em  all  that  they 
can  push  on  into  the  trees.  Jest  lie  as  ef  yer  was 
dead.  That  chap  out  thar'll  pass  us  to  one  side." 

Dimly  seen,  some  ten  feet  to  the  right,  was  one  of 
the  Indians;  but  though  Jack  listened  with  all  his  ears 
he  heard  no  sound  as  the  stealthy  figure  crept  into  the 
underwooc}.  For  the  first  time  he  had  an  illustration  of 


Surrounded  by  Indians          175 

that  cunning  and  cleverness  of  which  he  had  read  and 
heard,  and  for  which  the  Red  Indian  was  famous. 
Though  he  himself  could  hardly  have  advanced  a  foot 
without  causing  a  branch  to  swish  heavily,  or  a  twig  to 
snap,  not  a  sound  came  from  the  several  points  where 
he  knew  an  enemy  must  be.  So,  more  convinced  than 
ever  that  deathly  silence  was  essential  if  he  would  not 
be  pounced  upon  before  he  was  ready,  he  kneeled  there 
like  a  statue,  his  eyes  peering  eagerly  into  the  dense 
underwood. 

Ah!  A  leaf  rustled  away  to  his  right,  and  there  was 
a  feeble  sound,  almost  indistinguishable,  which  told  of 
a  branch  being  set  gently  aside.  And  then  silence,  a 
deadly,  nerve-racking  silence,  which  continued  for  nearly 
five  minutes.  Five  minutes!  It  felt  like  five  hours  to 
Jack.  And  then  a  hand  caught  him  by  the  shoulder. 

"H-h-h-ush!"  Steve  hardly  whispered  the  word. 
"Jest  to  the  right!" 

The  hand  on  his  shoulder  gripped  him  firmly  and 
turned  Jack  a  little.  Without  needing  to  move  his 
legs,  he  twisted  his  body,  and  found  himself  looking 
in  a  different  direction.  Then  his  ears  caught  a  faint 
sound.  A  mouse  might  have  made  more;  a  human 
being  could  hardly  have  been  expected  to  make  so  little. 
It  seemed  impossible.  A  branch  dangling  just  before 
his  face  swayed  in  his  direction,  and  the  leaves  rustled 
against  his  forehead.  Then  they  began  to  press  upon 
him,  gently  at  first,  and  then  more  and  more  firmly. 
Someone  was  trying  to  push  the  branch  aside  and 
advance.  Jack's  fingers  closed  on  the  haft  of  his 
hunting-knife  like  a  vice.  He  braced  his  muscles  for 
the  encounter,  while  he  held  his  breath  lest  the  mis- 


1 76  Indian  and  Scout 

creant  should  hear  him,  and  so  gain  an  advantage.  The 
moment  for  action  was  imminent.  It  was  with  difficulty 
that  he  could  restrain  himself;  but  for  the  hand  still 
gripping  his  shoulder,  telling  him  that  Steve  was  there, 
advising  him  still  to  remain  motionless,  Jack  would 
have  thrown  further  caution  to  the  winds,  and  would 
have  flung  himself  upon  the  Indian. 

Crash!  Away  in  the  centre  of  the  little  wood  a 
branch  broke  with  the  crisp  sound  of  a  pistol  shot, 
and  instantly  there  came  that  familiar  signal,  the  bark 
of  a  fox.  It  was  answered  to  right  and  left,  and  then 
from  a  point  but  three  feet  from  our  hero.  Instantly 
the  pressure  on  the  branch  pushing  into  his  face  was 
relaxed.  Those  faint,  stealthy  sounds  reached  his  ear 
again,  and  presently  subsided. 

"  Good  fer  yer,"  whispered  Steve,  placing  his  lips  close 
to  Jack's  ear  again.  "  I  felt  yer  kinder  draw  yerself 
together  fer  the  ruction,  and  I  'low  it  takes  a  heap  of 
grit  to  lay  still  when  thar's  one  of  them  varmint  close 
handy.  They've  found  the  hosses,  and  by  the  way 
they're  palaverin'  it  seems  to  me  as  if  they  took  it  fer 
granted  that  we'd  slipped  from  the  wood.  Do  yer  hear 
them  calls?  They're  signalling  to  the  men  placed  out- 
side." 

From  the  small  wood  in  which  they  lay,  and  a  little 
later  from  the  plain  outside,  came  those  mysterious 
barkings,  as  if  a  regiment  of  foxes  had  suddenly  ap- 
peared upon  the  scene.  Then  voices  were  heard,  as 
the  Indians  called  openly  to  one  another. 

"  I  think  they've  gone,"  said  Jack  at  last,  having  heard 
more  sounds  of  breaking  branches.  "  We  shall  be  able 
to  leave  perhaps  in  a  little  while." 


Surrounded  by  Indians          177 

"P'raps,"  agreed  Steve  grudgingly.  "But  ef  I  know 
them  varmint  they  won't  take  their  eyes  off  this  place 
even  ef  they  think  we've  given  'em  the  slip.  They'll 
watch  it  like  lynxes  all  night  long,  and  in  the  morning 
they'll  know  for  sure,  'cos  there  won't  be  no  tracks. 
Guess  they're  leadin'  away  our  hosses." 

Listening  intently,  the  dull  sounds  which  came  to 
their  ears  told  them  without  room  for  doubt  that  the 
two  horses  were  being  taken  from  the  wood.  There 
were  then  a  few  more  calls  out  on  the  plain,  and 
afterwards  silence  again  settled  down. 

"S-s-s-h!"  whispered  Steve,  as  Jack  attempted  to 
move,  for  his  limbs  were  a  little  cramped.  "  I'm  thinkin' 
there's  a  bit  of  a  trick  bein'  played.  Lie  still  fer  yer 
life,  for  I  thought  I  heerd  someone  movin'  not  three 
yards  away." 

He  whispered  ever  so  gently  in  Jack's  ear,  and  again 
his  restraining  hand  fell  upon  our  hero's  shoulder.  An 
instant  later  it  was  dragged  forcibly  away,  for  someone 
had  gripped  Jack  by  the  arm,  and  with  a  sudden  jerk 
he  was  hauled  in  the  opposite  direction.  A  man  closed 
with  him,  grasping  his  hair  with  one  hand,  while  the 
other  held  a  knife  poised  in  the  air.  And,  luckily  for 
Jack,  his  fingers  closed  upon  the  wrist  ere  a  second 
had  passed,  while  his  free  hand  sought  for  and  finally 
fell  upon  the  man's  neck.  He  gripped  it  as  a  terrier 
takes  a  rat  between  his  teeth,  and  then  made  frantic 
efforts  to  upset  his  opponent,  who  lay  above  him.  And 
all  the  while,  as  the  two  struggled  desperately  in  the 
darkness  of  the  undergrowth,  there  was  silence;  neither 
uttered  so  much  as  a  sigh,  and  the  only  sound  to  be 
detected  was  the  snap  of  breaking  twigs  and  the  hiss 

(0179)  12 


178  Indian  and  Scout 

of  their  laboured  breathing.  For  Jack  was  in  the  grip 
of  one  of  the  deadly  Indians,  and  the  struggle  between 
them  could  end  only  with  the  last  breath  of  one  or 
other  of  them. 


CHAPTER  XII 

A   Tight   Corner 

"JACK,  Jack.     Aer  yer  there?  aer  yer  there?" 

The  words  came  from  Steve  in  an  eager  whisper,  and, 
though  repeated  time  and  again,  received  no  answer. 
Instead,  the  disabled  hunter  heard  only  the  dull  sound 
of  blows,  the  hiss  of  sharply-indrawn  breaths,  and  the 
snap  of  breaking  twigs.  He  ground  his  teeth  in  his 
vexation  and  anxiety,  but  as  he  could  not  rise  to  his 
feet  and  walk,  for  his  legs  still  refused  to  carry  him,  the 
gallant  little  fellow  rolled  on  to  his  side  and  dragged 
himself  towards  the  combatants.  Very  soon  his  eager 
fingers  fell  upon  one  of  them. 

"Injun!"  he  exclaimed,  running  his  hand  down  the 
man's  back  and  discovering  the  shoulders  bare.  "  Then 
it  are  time  I  lent  a  hand." 

Swiftly  his  fingers  sought  for  his  own  hunting-knife, 
for  Steve  realized  that  the  Indian  was  kneeling  upon 
Jack,  who  lay  beneath  him,  and  argued  from  that  fact 
that  our  hero  was  getting  the  worst  of  the  conflict. 
Dragging  his  weapon  from  its  sheath,  he  raised  himself 
on  one  elbow,  and  made  ready  to  strike.  And  to  make 
sure  that  he  had  made  no  error,  and  that  his  blade  was 
thrust  in  the  right  direction,  he  again  groped  for  the 
shoulders  he  had  felt  a  moment  before.  There  they 

1T9 


i8o  Indian  and  Scout 

were,  lean  and  muscular,  and  at  once  up  went  the  knife, 
while  Steve  braced  himself  for  the  stroke.  But  he  never 
delivered  it;  for  of  a  sudden  the  straining  muscles  be- 
neath his  finger  tips  relaxed,  the  heaving,  sinuous  move- 
ments of  the  Indian's  shoulders  ceased,  while  the  man 
seemed  to  become  in  one  instant  limp  and  helpless. 
He  subsided  on  to  his  opponent,  and  then  rolled 
heavily  to  the  ground.  The  silence  which  followed 
was  broken  by  the  laboured  breathing  of  one  man  only. 

"Jack,  Jack,"  whispered  Steve  again,  his  note  more 
eager  and  anxious  than  before. 

"  Here,"  came  the  answer.     "  Here,  safe  and  sound." 

"Yer  killed  him?" 

"Yes,"  gasped  Jack. 

"Gee!     How?" 

Jack  sat  beside  his  comrade  for  a  minute  and  more 
before  he  ventured  upon  an  answer.  All  the  while  he 
breathed  deeply,  in  jerky  spasms,  as  a  man  does  who 
has  been  sorely  tried,  and  who  has  striven  to  the  last 
point  of  endurance.  His  whole  frame  was  trembling 
with  the  intensity  of  the  struggle,  while  his  fingers  were 
crooked  and  rigid  with  the  strain  of  prolonged  gripping. 
Then,  getting  his  breath  again,  and  the  use  of  his  fingers 
by  gentle  movements,  he  crept  closer  to  Steve  and  whis- 
pered his  answer. 

"  I  had  luck,"  he  said.  "  He  took  me  by  surprise  at 
first,  and  I  wonder  he  didn't  send  his  knife  through  me. 
But  he  missed  his  stroke,  and  before  he  could  make 
another  I  had  a  grip  of  his  wrist.  At  the  same  time 
my  other  hand  got  a  hold  on  to  his  neck." 

"Gee!"  The  scout  gave  vent  to  a  low  exclamation. 
"Yes?"  he  asked. 


A  Tight  Corner  181 

"  I  knew  that  was  my  only  chance,  so  I  hung  on  like 
a  bull  dog.  He's  dead,  the  life  choked  out  of  him." 

"  Sure?  Sartin'  he  ain't  foxin'.  There  never  was  any 
ter  play  possum  like  an  Injun.  Ye're  dead  sure  he's 
done?" 

Jack  moved  from  the  side  of  the  hunter  for  one 
moment,  and  ran  his  hand  over  his  late  antagonist. 
There  was  not  a  doubt  but  that  he  was  dead.  The 
chest  was  motionless,  and  not  a  breath  left  the  lips. 

"He'll  never  fight  again,"  he  said  sternly,  creeping 
back  to  Steve.  "Do  you  think  they'll  come  to  find 
him?" 

There  was  a  low  growl  from  the  hunter.  " Think!"  he 
whispered  scornfully.  "  In  course  they  will.  But  his 
absence'll  make  'em  mighty  careful.  I've  told  yer  an 
Injun  don't  like  to  get  beat.  His  game's  always  to 
kill,  and  go  scot  free  himself.  But  they'll  search  this 
here  group  of  trees  till  they  find  him,  and  then " 

He  ended  suddenly,  and  propped  himself  up  to  listen ; 
for  there  was  no  need  to  explain  what  would  happen. 
Even  to  Jack's  inexperienced  mind  the  ending  was  only 
too  obvious.  The  horses  had  been  found,  and  now 
themselves.  Of  that  the  Indians  would  have  not  the 
smallest  doubt  once  their  comrade  failed  to  return,  and 
failed  also  to  answer  their  signals. 

"  Huh !  There  they  go  barkin'  As  ef  any  fool  couldn't 
tell  as  it  warn't  a  fox.  That'll  tell  'em  right  enough  that 
something's  happened,"  whispered  Steve,  "It  ain't  o' 
no  use  fer  me  to  send  'em  back  the  call,  'cos  I  can  tell 
yer  no  white  man  can  manage  it  proper.  Them  Injuns 
get  practising  when  they're  no  higher  than  a  dozen 
dollars  piled  one  on  t'other,  and  there  ain't  a  one  as 


182  Indian  and  Scout 

tries  it  later  on  as  kin  git  quite  at  the  right  sound. 
H-h-hish!  Ain't  that  someone  movin'?" 

Intense  silence  fell  upon  them  again,  while  Jack  raised 
himself  on  his  knees,  so  as  to  prepare  for  a  second 
struggle.  Yes,  somewhere  directly  in  front  of  him,  and 
perhaps  four  yards  away,  a  twig  had  stirred,  while  the 
gentle  rustle  of  a  leaf  had  reached  him.  He  stooped, 
pressed  Steve's  hand  to  show  him  that  he  was  ready, 
and  then  silently  gripped  a  rifle  which  lay  beside  the 
hunter.  To  raise  himself  to  his  feet  was  the  work  of 
half  a  minute,  for  deathly  silence  was  essential.  But 
once  upon  them,  he  stood  in  a  tense  attitude,  bending 
slightly,  both  hands  gripping  the  barrel  of  his  weapon, 
while  the  stock  was  raised  above  his  head. 

Click!  The  tip  of  a  brier,  or  of  one  of  the  smaller 
branches  of  a  bush,  swished  as  it  was  released  by  some 
unseen  hand.  In  that  intense  silence  it  sounded  to  our 
hero  almost  as  loud  as  the  report  of  a  pistol.  And  it 
told  him  as  clearly  as  possible  that  this  new  antagonist 
stealing  up  towards  him  was  directly  in  front,  and  al- 
ready somewhat  nearer.  He  held  his  breath,  and  waited, 
his  eyes  staring  into  the  darkness.  Click!  The  sound 
was  repeated. 

And  then,  for  one  brief  second,  an  uncanny  sensation 
came  over  him.  For  something  touched  his  boot,  and 
that  something  ran  nimbly  up  to  his  knees.  Was  it  a 
forest  mouse,  scared  by  the  intruder  creeping  towards 
Jack  with  murderous  intent?  Or  was  it  the  man  himself? 

Quick  as  a  flash  Jack  decided  the  matter.  A  few 
weeks  before  he  would  have  waited  a  little  longer  to 
make  sure.  But  he  had  already  had  more  than  one 
lesson  teaching  him  that  indecision  is  often  fatal.  Be- 


A  Tight  Corner  183 

sides,  he  knew  now  what  he  had  never  guessed  before. 
He  had  already,  this  very  evening,  had  an  object  lesson 
of  the  craft  and  stealth  of  the  Indian,  and  realized  that 
where  a  silent  and  unexpected  attack  was  necessary 
their  skill  was  phenomenal.  Knowing  that,  Jack  struck 
with  all  his  strength.  He  struck  blindly  at  the  dark- 
ness, till  the  heavy  butt  of  his  rifle  was  stayed  in  its 
course  by  some  unseen  obstacle.  Then  he  swung  it  up 
again,  and  sent  it  crashing  through  the  air  till  once  more 
its  course  was  arrested. 

"  Gee !     That  are  a  blow.     H-h-hist ! " 

It  was  Steve's  voice,  low  and  cautious,  and  with  just 
the  faintest  trace  of  exultation  in  the  note.  For  Steve 
was  no  craven,  and  even  if  he  were  powerless  to  defend 
himself,  he  could  yet  appreciate  that  power  in  others. 
And  the  hunter  had  been  in  so  many  engagements  and 
had  come  successfully  out  of  them,  that  now  that  the 
tables  seemed  turning  a  little  in  their  favour,  and  the 
outlook  did  not  appear  quite  so  bad  as  it  had  done  a 
little  while  ago,  he  could  not  help  a  feeling  of  exultation. 

"  Ef  he  ain't  the  boy,  this  here  Carrots!"  he  murmured 
to  himself,  as  he  peered  up  in  the  direction  in  which  he 
knew  Jack  stood.  <l  Ef  he  ain't  showing  an  old  hand 
how  these  here  things  should  be  done.  He  jest  cotched 
that  feller  an  almighty  whack  on  the  head,  and  guess 
that's  an  end  of  him.  Jack,"  he  said  a  little  louder. 

"  Well,"  came  back  the  laconic  answer. 

"  How'd  yer  come  out  of  that  'ere  business?  Yer 
ketched  him  a  whop?  Eh?" 

"  Dead/'  said  Jack  curtly.  "  I  felt  his  fingers  on  my 
leg.  He  didn't  know  exactly  where  1  was  till  then.  I 
struck  out  with  the  rifle,  and " 


1 84  Indian  and  Scout 

"Gee!  Ef  you  ain't  fine!  But  hist  a  moment.  Them 
varmint'll  be  somewhares  about." 

It  seemed  indeed  more  than  likely  that  the  Indians 
who  had  entered  the  trees,  and  of  whom  three  still 
remained,  would  endeavour  to  follow  their  comrades. 
Although  Jack's  rifle  butt  had  slain  the  second  man 
in  absolute  silence,  his  struggle  with  the  first  had  pro- 
duced sufficient  noise  to  attract  attention,  and  without 
a  doubt  the  enemy  were  fully  aware  of  the  fact  that  the 
men  they  sought  were  amongst  the  trees.  No  doubt 
they  were  still  uncertain  of  their  exact  position.  But 
that  was  a  difficulty  which  these  crafty  men  would  soon 
overcome. 

"  They'll  send  more  of  the  young  chaps  in,"  whispered 
Steve,  "  and  this  time  they'll  hunt  in  couples.  Jack,  lad, 
ye've  got  ter  do  a  bit  more  fightin'  ef  yer  want  ter  keep 
yer  haar." 

"  You  think  they  will  soon  find  us,  now  they  know  we 
are  in  the  wood?"  asked  our  hero  suddenly,  kneeling 
close  to  his  comrade. 

"  Think!"  At  any  other  time  Jack  would  have  roared 
with  laughing,  for  the  little  hunter's  tones  were  full  of 
indignation  and  contempt.  "  It  don't  want  no  thinkin'. 
A  baby  could  tell  yer  that  them  critters  would  find 
us,  and  quick,  too.  That  ain't  what's  worryin'.  It's 
the  fact  that  they'll  come  along  in  a  bunch,  and  sence 
there's  you  alone  to  fight,  why,  in  course,  it  don't  leave 
us  a  dog's  chance." 

"And  supposing  they  don't  come  along?"  asked  our 
hero.  "Supposing  they  decide  to  leave  the  matter  for 
a  while." 

"Tain't  likely.     But  ef  they  do,  the  end's  jest  the 


A  Tight  Corner  185 

same.  They'll  set  a  close  watch  right  round  the  place, 
and  not  one  of  them  varmint'll  close  an  eyelid  till  the 
light  comes.  Droppin'  asleep  when  he's  watchin'  is  a 
thing  an  Injun  can't  do.  It's  clean  right  up  agin  his 
nature." 

"  Then,  that  being  the  case,  we'll  not  wait  here  either 
for  them  to  attack  us  in  a  bunch  or  for  them  to  find 
us  in  the  morning." 

Jack  spoke  quietly,  and  cautiously  raised  himself  on 
to  his  feet.  "I'm  going  to  carry  you  to  the  edge  of 
the  trees,  Steve,"  he  whispered.  "  I  tell  you,  if  they're 
bound  to  find  us  in  any  case,  so  long  as  we  stay  where 
we  are,  why,  I  ain't  going  to  stay  to  be  butchered, 
and  I  ain't  going  to  leave  you,  either.  Just  take  a 
grip  round  my  neck,  and  hold  tight  if  we  meet  anything. 
That'll  leave  me  with  my  hands  free.  Now." 

Steve  gaped  at  the  words,  and  more  at  the  tone  of 
them  than  anything.  Little  by  little  as  the  moments 
had  passed  he  had  seen  something  in  our  hero  which  he 
had  never  detected  before.  He  was  wont  to  look  upon 
Jack  as  a  lad  who,  by  accident  perhaps,  had  been 
enabled  to  come  between  a  band  of  train  robbers  and 
their  victims.  He  did  not  deny  that  he  had  shown 
pluck.  But  that  this  young  fellow  was  a  fire  eater,  that 
he  could  on  occasion  become  a  stern,  commanding  man, 
and  could  coolly  face  a  difficulty  such  as  this  one,  had 
never  occurred  to  him.  More  than  that,  Steve,  with  all 
his  age  and  experience,  had  always  been  the  one  to  lead 
and  to  guide,  to  give  hints  as  to  the  manner  of  doing 
this,  and  timely  warnings  and  advice  as  to  the  methods 
to  be  employed  in  some  other  sudden  difficulty.  Now, 
suddenly  to  find  the  position  reversed,  to  know  that 


1 86  Indian  and  Scout 

Jack  was  giving  orders,  and  was  about  to  act  as  seemed 
best  to  himself,  wholly  regardless  of  his  own  inexperi- 
ence, why,  it  took  Steve's  breath  away. 

"Gee!  Ef  he  don't  beat  everything!"  he  murmured. 
"  He  jest  treats  me  as  ef  I  war  a  kid,  and — and " 

"  Hold  fast,  and  don't  worry  if  I  have  to  drop  you 
suddenly.  I'll  stand  by  you  whatever  happens.  There ! 
Up  you  come." 

It  was  all  done  without  hesitation,  and  in  absolute 
silence.  No  one  could  have  admonished  Jack  for  lack 
of  caution.  His  orders  were  whispered  into  Steve's  ear, 
and  every  movement  was  slow  and  gradual.  He  stood, 
at  length,  to  his  full  height,  Steve  gripping  him  round 
the  neck,  while  with  one  arm  he  held  the  scout's 
useless  legs  suspended.  The  other  hand  gripped  the 
haft  of  his  formidable  hunting-knife.  Then  he  began 
a  slow  and  stealthy  progress  towards  the  edge  of  the 
wood. 

"  Take  yer  time,  take  yer  time,"  whispered  Steve.  "  It 
would  be  fatal  ter  make  so  much  as  a  sound." 

Advancing  inches  only  at  a  time,  placing  each  foot 
cautiously  in  front  of  the  other,  and  carefully  avoiding 
branches  which  grew  in  the  way,  our  hero  at  length 
reached  the  very  edge  of  the  trees.  Once  there  he  set 
down  his  burden  for  a  few  minutes,  while  he  lay  at 
full  length,  and  placing  his  ear  to  the  ground  listened 
for  sounds  made  by  the  enemy. 

"  Hist!  Did  yer  hear  that?"  asked  Steve,  when  some 
minutes  had  passed.  "  Them  chaps  is  startin'  in  at  the 
far  side  of  the  wood,  and  I  should  reckon  as  thar's 
a  heap  of  'em.  Do  yer  hear  'em?" 

Jack  fancied  he  had  heard  some  sounds,  but  was  not 


A  Tight  Corner  187 

at  all  certain.  But  to  Steve  there  was  not  the  smallest 
doubt. 

"  They're  over  yonder,"  he  whispered,  a  note  of  con- 
viction in  his  voice,  "  and  I  tell  yer  there's  a  good  twenty 
of  'em,  else  there  wouldn't  be  so  much  noise.  It  stands 
to  reason  that  an  Injun  kin  creep  through  a  wood  same 
as  this  silenter  than  a  snake.  But  ef  he's  got  a  crowd 
of  comrades  with  him,  some  of  'em's  bound  to  be  less 
careful.  Yer  kin  take  it  from  me,  them  critters  has 
got  it  fixed  in  their  minds  that  we're  trying  to  make 
out  over  in  that  direction." 

"  Then  all  the  better.  Let  'em  continue  to  think  that," 
whispered  Jack  hoarsely.  "We  ain't  going  in  that  di- 
rection, but  just  clear  out  here  in  front  of  us,  and  if  we 
meet  one  of  their  men,  well " 

He  came  to  an  abrupt  halt,  leaving  Steve  to  guess  his 
meaning.  But  if  ever  determination  were  conveyed  by 
the  tones  of  a  whisper,  why,  Jack's  showed  without 
a  shadow  of  doubt  that  he  was  resolute.  Indeed,  those 
two  death  struggles  in  the  wood  had  hardened  him. 
A  little  while  ago  his  thoughts  had  been  entirely  en- 
gaged with  the  task  of  escaping  the  enemy  and  rescuing 
his  comrade.  Now,  however,  added  to  that  endeavour 
was  a  stubborn  resolution  to  punish  these  men  who  had 
wantonly  attacked  him.  He  argued  that  if  he  with  a 
number  of  friends  had  come  upon  a  couple  of  harmless 
Indians,  he  would  have  shown  them  kindness,  and  would 
not  have  instantly  sought  their  lives.  Why,  therefore, 
should  these  natives  of  the  plain  so  diligently  seek  to 
kill  him  and  Steve?  What  right  had  they  to  interfere 
with  them?  As  they  had  dared  to  do  so,  why,  they 
must  be  made  to  pay  the  penalty.  In  one  brief  hour,  in 


188  Indian  and  Scout 

fact,  Jack,  who  hitherto  had  had  no  great  dislike  of  the 
Indians,  for  the  simple  reason  that  he  had  never  come 
across  them,  was  possessed  of  an  intense  hatred  for 
them,  a  burning  animosity,  a  desire  to  come  to  hand 
grips  with  them,  and  a  fierce  determination  to  fight 
any  who  crossed  his  path.  Nor  in  that  was  he  different 
to  the  old  hunters  of  the  plains,  men  like  Steve  and 
Tom. 

"  I  can  see  what  they  mean  now,"  he  thought,  as 
he  and  Steve  lay  on  the  outskirts  of  the  wood. 
"  They've  told  me  time  and  again  how  the  people 
crossing  over  to  California,  to  the  diggin's,  have  scoffed 
at  all  fear  of  Indians,  have  imagined  that  they  would 
become  friendly  with  them  without  meeting  with  un- 
usual difficulties.  But  those  who  have  lived  to  reach 
the  diggings  have  done  so  with  a  different  under- 
standing of  the  Indian.  They  know  him  by  then  to 
be  a  fierce  and  relentless  enemy,  a  man  who  will  butcher 
for  the  sake  of  butchering,  and  who  will  spare  neither 
a  sick  white  man  nor  a  woman  nor  a  child." 

"Jest  listen  to  'em!"  suddenly  whispered  Steve,  inter- 
rupting Jack's  thoughts.  "Ef  I  ain't  right  I'll  eat  me 
boots.  Them  critters  think  we're  makin'  for  the  far 
side.  They  heard  the  ruction  you  had  with  them  two 
varmint,  and  though  they  guess  that  something  bad's 
happened  to  'em,  they  aer  wondering  whether  the  noises 
ain't  caused  by  us.  Yer  see,  it's  right  up  agin  Injun 
nature  and  cunnin'  ter  make  a  sound.  So,  ef  them 
noises  wasn't  caused  by  fightin',  they  was  caused  by 
us.  Reckon  a  mouse  couldn't  get  through  on  the  far 
side." 

"But  a  man  can  on  this.     Get  a  grip  of  my  neck 


A  Tight  Corner  189 

again,"  commanded  Jack.  "  Now,  I'm  going  to  strike 
clear  away  into  the  open.  If  you  hear  or  see  any- 
thing, jest  give  my  neck  a  squeeze.  That'll  stop  me, 
and  give  me  a  warning." 

It  was  lucky  for  our  hero  that  he  had  such  a  crafty 
fellow  as  the  little  hunter  with  him,  even  if  he  happened 
to  be  helpless.  But  for  Steve  Jack  would  have  blun- 
dered into  one  of  the  Indian  sentries.  As  it  was,  Steve 
arrested  him  with  a  gentle  squeeze  of  his  arms  within 
five  minutes  of  their  setting  out. 

"S-s-sh!"  he  whispered.  "I  seed  something  direct 
ahead,  standin'  up  agin  the  white  fringe  of  the  clouds. 
It's  an  Injun,  sure.  He'll  be  shoutin'  in  a  jiffy." 

"  Then  we  will  turn  and  make  along  till  we  can  pass 
him,"  suggested  Jack. 

"  Yer  might,"  came  the  cautious  answer.  "But  I  think 
as  you'd  be  sartin  to  run  up  agin  another  of  the  varmint. 
Twenty  yards  is  as  much  space  as  they'd  dare  allow  be- 
tween each  man  on  a  night  same  as  this,  and  ef  yer  tried 
to  pass  between  them  it  means  you'd  be  within  ten 
yards  or  so.  That  ain't  enough.  They'd  be  sartin  ter 
spot  yer.  Let's  lie  down  a  spell.  There  ain't  no  sayin' 
what  the  critters  aer  doin'." 

Jack  took  his  advice  promptly,  for  there  was  not  a 
doubt  but  that  the  utmost  caution  was  necessary.  Steve 
might  or  might  not  have  seen  one  of  the  Indian  sentries, 
but  it  would  be  madness  to  attempt  a  forward  move- 
ment till  they  were  certain  that  the  road  was  clear.  So 
for  a  long  quarter  of  an  hour  the  two  lay  stretched 
side  by  side,  the  cunning  little  hunter  with  his  ear  glued 
to  the  ground,  while  Jack  peered  into  the  darkness 
ahead.  Then,  suddenly,  a  commotion  was  heard  from 


190  Indian  and  Scout 

the  direction  of  the  wood.  A  shrill  call  awoke  the 
echoes,  while  instantly  following  it  came  that  well- 
known  signal,  crisp  and  clearly,  now  from  the  centre 
of  the  wood,  later  from  one  end,  and  immediately 
afterwards  from  the  far  side. 

"Them  critters  has  lit  upon  the  men  as  attacked 
you,"  said  Steve  hoarsely.  "  Reckon  when  the  hull 
lot  gets  to  know  that  two  of  their  pals  is  dead 
there'll  be  a  bit  of  a  bother.  It'll  make  'em  downright 
mad.  But  they  ain't  goin'  ter  take  us,  Jack.  Some- 
how, after  all  that's  happened,  I  feel  as  ef  we  was 
bound  to  come  through,  ef  only  to  give  me  a  chance 
of  talkin'  ter  the  boys.  But  it  ain't  goin'  ter  be  done 
easy.  Ye've  got  ter — hist! — That  'ere  chap's  movin'." 

Keen  and  ever  watchful,  Steve  detected  a  movement 
in  front  instantly,  and  in  a  moment  he  had  gripped 
Jack  by  the  arm,  and  was  directing  his  attention  in  that 
direction. 

"  He's  riding  this  way.  See  him?  Gee!  ef  he  ain't 
comin'  right  on  top  of  us." 

"  Lie  still.  Leave  him  to  me,"  said  Jack,  peering 
ahead  of  him.  "  Do  you  think  he'll  see  us  easy  as 
we  lie  here?" 

"  Might — mightn't,"  came  the  curt  answer.  "  Jest 
depends.  Ef  he's  listenin'  to  them  critters  over  thar 
in  the  wood,  why,  maybe  his  eyes'll  not  happen  to 
spot  us.  But,  as  a  gineral  rule,  there  ain't  no  sayin' 
what  an  Injun  won't  see.  A  needle  ain't  much  too 
small  for  the  varmint.  Ef  he  comes  close,  what'll 
you  do?" 

"  S-s-sh!     He's  coming  quick.     Lie  still." 

Pressing  the  hunter  down  with  one  hand,  Jack  lay 


A  Tight  Corner  191 

himself  full  length,  his  body  squeezed  as  close  to  the 
ground  as  possible,  and  in  that  position  he  had  no 
difficulty  in  detecting  a  figure  riding  towards  him. 
The  man  was  urging  his  horse  on,  for  there  came  the 
dull  sound  of  a  moccasined  heel  applied  to  the  side 
of  the  animal.  And  then  followed  the  muffled  thud  of 
the  footfalls.  Yes,  the  Indian  was  riding  in  a  line 
which  would  take  him  almost  over  the  bodies  of  those 
he  sought,  and  in  that  event,  even  if  he  himself  failed 
to  detect  the  two  figures  prone  in  the  grass,  the  animal 
would  not  miss  them.  Jack  braced  himself  on  hands 
and  knees,  his  feet  drawn  up  beneath  him  as  a  panther 
gathers  its  limbs  preparatory  to  a  spring,  and  there, 
hardly  daring  to  breathe,  he  waited,  while  the  foot- 
falls came  nearer.  A  moment  or  two  later  the  animal 
was  almost  over  him.  Then  it  suddenly  drew  to  one 
side,  shying  so  unexpectedly  that  the  rider  was  almost 
thrown.  But,  gripping  the  saddle  with  his  knees,  the 
Indian  retained  his  seat,  and  at  the  same  moment  pulled 
at  his  reins,  for  he  as  yet  had  seen  nothing.  It  was 
an  opportunity  not  to  be  missed,  and  promptly  Jack 
launched  himself  at  the  man.  With  one  bound  he  was 
beside  him,  then,  quick  as  lightning,  he  gripped  him  by 
arm  and  leg,  and,  tearing"  him  from  his  seat,  threw  him 
heavily  to  the  ground. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

Dodging  the  Enemy 

THERE  was  an  intense  silence  immediately  after  Jack 
had  thrown  the  Indian,  broken  only  by  his  own  deep 
breathing. 

"  Dead?"  asked  Steve  huskily,  for  the  stress  of  the 
fighting  and  their  difficulties  were  beginning  to  tell 
upon  the  little  hunter.  Ye've  killed  him — eh?  I 
never  knew  an  Injun  downed  so  easy." 

"  Stunned,  I  think,"  whispered  Jack  sternly.  "  He's 
still  breathing  a  little." 

"  Foxin'?"  You're  dead  sartin  he  ain't  foxin'?  I've 
knowed  one  of  the  critters  lie  as  if  he  was  as  dead  as 
meat,  and  then  get  his  knife  into  the  man  as  thought 
he'd  downed  him.  Aer  yer  sure?  'Cos  if  you  ain't " 

"  Certain,"  came  Jack's  emphatic  answer.  "  He  fell  on 
his  head  with  a  terrible  bang,  and  he'll  not  recover  for  a 
time.  Jest  take  a  grip  round  my  neck.  We're  going  to 
move." 

They  had  spoken  in  low  whispers  only,  for  neither 
had  forgotten  that  in  all  probability  there  were  Indian 
sentries  on  either  side  of  them.  However,  it  did  seem 
now  that  fortune  was  to  be  kind  to  them;  for  at  this 
very  moment  the  outcry  which  had  broken  out  some 
few  minutes  earlier  from  the  direction  of  the  wood  was 
again  heard. 

192 


Dodging  the  Enemy  193 

Shrill,  angry  calls  came  through  the  darkness,  and 
were  answered  from  a  dozen  different  directions.  Then, 
immediately  to  the  right  of  them  there  came  a  muffled 
thump,  followed  by  the  dull  sounds  of  a  horse's  footfalls. 

"Warn't  I  right?"  asked  Steve.  "Another  of  the 
critters  thar,  and  a  second  'way  to  the  left.  Now's 
your  time,  young  'un.  Let's  git  as  slippy  as  we  can." 

Jack  needed  no  second  invitation.  He  too  had  heard 
the  sounds  on  the  right  and  those  calls  from  the  wood; 
and,  realizing  that,  though  the  distraction  had  come 
just  at  the  critical  moment,  and  would  call  off  the 
attention  of  the  circle  of  watchers  from  themselves,  yet 
it  indicated  probably  a  full  discovery  of  that  struggle 
which  had  taken  place  amongst  the  trees,  and  with  it 
a  knowledge  that  the  fugitives  had  fled,  he  gripped 
Steve  firmly  in  his  arms  and  swung  him  up  on  to  the 
back  of  the  Indian  pony;  for  the  well-trained  beast 
had  remained  beside  its  fallen  master.  To  sling  his 
rifle  and  leap  up  behind  the  hunter  was  the  work  of 
a  moment,  and  straightway  he  set  the  animal  in  motion. 
But  almost  instantly  he  was  faced  by  another  difficulty. 

"Where  away?"  he  asked,  for  the  darkness  confused 
him. 

"  Dead  straight  ahead  fer  a  while,"  came  the  whispered 
answer;  "then  slick  ter  the  right,  whar  our  camp  lies. 
Likely  as  not  some  of  the  boys  is  riding  over  ter  meet 
us,  for  they'll  have  reckoned  by  this  that  things  aer 
queer.  Gently  does  it,  Carrots.  There  ain't  no  use 
hurryin'." 

At  a  gentle  walk,  therefore,  they  rode  away  from  the 
small  collection  of  trees  which  had  proved  their  salva- 
tion, and  at  the  same  time  had  very  nearly  seen  their 

(0179)  13 


194  Indian  and  Scout 

ending.  When  the  pony  had  covered  a  quarter  of  a 
mile,  or  thereabouts,  Jack  turned  it  to  the  right,  and, 
setting  the  plucky  little  beast  at  a  trot,  went  on  into 
the  night. 

"They'll  follow?"  he  asked,  after  a  while;  for  the  cries 
which  they  had  heard  for  some  time  had  ceased  now  for 
the  past  five  minutes.  "  I  suppose  they  found  those  two 
men  and  then  had  a  palaver,  as  you  call  it?" 

"Yer  kin  put  it  like  that.  Them  critters  has  had  a 
hard  nut  to  crack,  'cos,  don't  yer  see,  the  trees  and  the 
darkness  bothered  'em.  Yes,  they  found  them  two 
critters  you  downed  in  the  wood,  and,  in  course,  they 
made  sartin  we  was  still  there,  in  hidin',  but  shifted 
from  the  old  quarters.  So  they  sent  their  best  men 
in  ter  ferret  around,  and  in  a  while  they  found  not  a 
soul  save  their  own  comrades." 

"  That  is  when  we  heard  their  cries,  I  suppose?"  said 
Jack. 

"  Right  agin.  That  aer  when  they  began  ter  shriek. 
That  ain't  much  like  Injuns,  and  jest  shows  that  their 
dander's  been  properly  up.  They  sets  to,  then,  to  have 
a  palaver,  and Gee!  That  aer  bad!" 

Once  more  a  chorus  of  shouts  came  from  behind 
them,  and  told  Jack  and  his  comrades  that  something 
more  had  occurred  to  disturb  the  enemy  and  raise  their 
anger. 

"  It  aer  as  clear  as  daylight,"  said  Steve  shortly. 
"  Them  varmint  was  bothered  when  they  found  the  wood 
empty,  and  set  to  to  cast  all  round,  and  question  the 
critters  placed  there  to  watch.  They've  jest  dropped 
on  the  feller  as  you  pulled  off  this  here  hoss,  and — wall, 
even  on  a  dark  night  an  Injun'U  follow  a  trail," 


Dodging  the  Enemy  195 

"  How?"  Jack  was  a  practical  fellow,  and  this  night's 
adventure  had  made  him  critical.  He  failed  to  see  how 
even  the  most  astute  tracker  could  follow  a  trail  in  the 
darkness.  But  Steve  soon  enlightened  him. 

"Twont  take  'em  many  minutes,"  he  said,  a  note  of 
conviction  in  his  voice.  "Yer  see,  it  don't  matter  to 
them  ef  we  get  to  know  as  they're  follerin'.  They  has 
it  fer  sure  that  we're  gettin'  away  on  one  of  their  ponies, 
and  that  he's  got  ter  carry  double  weight.  That  tells 
'em  plain  that  they  can  easily  catch  us  up  once  they're 
on  the  trail.  So  they  ain't  likely  to  make  no  bones 
about  the  matter.  They'll  strip  the  bark  off  some  of 
them  pines  and  make  torches.  That'll  light  the  way, 
and  show  'em  what  line  we've  took.  Now,  how  aer  we 
to  get  top  side  of  'em?" 

The  little  hunter  lapsed  into  silence,  while  Jack  dug 
his  heels  into  the  pony  and  set  him  at  a  fast  canter. 
But  it  was  clear  that  the  animal  could  not  keep  up  the 
pace  for  long.  He  was  not  a  big  pony,  indeed  was 
hardly  up  to  Jack's  weight.  With  Steve  added  he  was 
decidedly  overweighted,  and  the  next  quarter  of  an  hour 
proved  that  fact  without  the  shadow  of  doubt.  The 
Indian  horse  was  blowing  heavily  by  then,  and  going 
slower. 

"It  stands  ter  reason  he  can't  last,"  cried  Steve  sud- 
denly. "  Now  I'll  tell  yer  what  we'll  do.  This  last  ten 
minutes  we've  been  riding  down  a  slope,  and  there's  a 
rise  behind  us  which  hides  them  Injuns.  We  can't  say 
as  they're  on  the  trail  yet,  'cos  we  can't  see.  Likely 
enough  they've  got  their  torches  by  now,  and  are  skir- 
mishing round  fer  the  trail.  If  that's  so,  they'll  be  after 
us  afore  two  minutes,  But  that  'ere  rise  hides  us  jest 


196  Indian  and  Scout 

the  same,  and  it'll  give  us  one  more  chance.  Jack,  aer 
yer  willing  ter  do  what  I  suggest?" 

"  Perfectly.  Anything  but  leave  you.  I've  taken 
you  in  charge,  and  I  don't  leave  you  behind  for  any- 
thing." 

There  was  a  ring  in  Jack's  voice,  a  manly,  elated  tone, 
which  told  the  little  hunter  that  his  companion  was 
anything  but  disheartened.  There  was  a  suspicion  of 
raillery  in  the  voice,  and  the  tone  tickled  Steve  im- 
mensely. He  leaned  back  against  our  hero  and  laughed 
heartily,  a  laugh  which  shook  him,  but  which,  with  all  his 
native  caution,  was  as  silent  as  a  gentle  whisper. 

"  Yer  do  fetch  the  band!"  he  smiled.  "  Ef  I  ain't  beat 
holler,  and  thet  by  a  townsman.  But  'tain't  a  time  ter 
play,  leastwise  not  yet.  Them  varmint  ain't  done  with 
us  by  a  long  way.  Now  jest  yer  listen.  A  friend  of 
mine,  an  old  hunter,  war  once  up  agin  a  difficulty  same 
almost  as  this.  And  he  jest  played  a  trick  that  cleared 
the  Injuns.  It  aer  our  one  chance,  and  we'll  take  it. 
The  wind's  in  our  faces,  though  I  ain't  so  sartain  that 
it'll  stay  thar.  Ef  it  don't,  the  trap  we  set'll  catch  us 
instead  of  the  Injuns.  Jack,  jest  hop  right  down  and 
get  a  bunch  of  that  'ere  grass." 

Quick  as  lightning  Jack  slipped  to  the  ground,  and 
did  as  Steve  suggested. 

"  Now,  set  it  afire,  and  slippy  with  it.  When  it's 
blazin'  properly,  jest  run  along  with  it  and  fire  the 
grass  in  as  many  places  as  yer  can.  Don't  wait  a 
second  longer  than  you're  obleeged  ter." 

There  was  a  note  of  tense  excitement  in  the  hunter's 
voice,  and  he  watched  eagerly  as  Jack  struck  a  match 
and  fired  a  bundle  of  grass.  Then  he  chuckled  as  a 


Dodging  the  Enemy  197 

spout  of  flame  burst  from  each  patch  of  the  long  prairie 
growth  he  touched. 

"  Ef  anything'll  save  us,  it's  that,"  he  said  to  himself; 
"  save  us  or  cook  us.  That  'ere  fire  ain't  ten  yards  wide 
now,  but  you  wait.  In  ten  minutes  it'll  have  spread  to 
a  mile  if  the  wind  holds.  Get  at  it,  Jack.  Hop  along 
as  fer  as  yer  like.  The  farther  the  better." 

Long  before  this  Jack  had  grasped  Steve's  meaning, 
and  had  realized  that  in  proposing  to  fire  the  grass  he 
hoped  to  stretch  a  curtain  of  flame  between  them  and 
the  Indians.  But  never  in  all  his  life  had  he  been  so 
utterly  astounded  at  the  result  of  his  action.  For  it 
was  at  the  end  of  the  hot  weather,  and  the  long  rank 
grass  which  just  there  covered  the  plains  was  as  dry  as 
tinder.  Indeed,  more  than  once  lately  they  had  ob- 
served prairie  fires;  but  some  irregularity  of  the  ground, 
a  river,  or  some  hilly  and  broken  ground  had  in  every 
case  limited  the  conflagration.  But  even  those  glimpses 
of  fires  had  given  our  hero  no  idea  of  their  tremendous 
spread,  of  the  fearful  rate  at  which  the  line  of  fire  pro- 
gressed, for  distance  had  diminished  everything.  Now, 
however,  the  thing  was  at  his  elbow,  and  he  was  struck 
with  awe.  As  if  eager  for  the  flames,  the  grass  caught 
in  every  direction,  and  then  surged  away  with  a  seething 
hissing  sound,  casting  up  but  little  smoke.  It  raced 
from  him  on  every  hand.  Patches  which  he  had  ignited 
ten  yards  from  one  another  were  joined  hand  in  hand 
before  he  could  think,  so  that  in  an  incredibly  short  space 
of  time  a  wall  of  fire  lay  before  him.  He  was  terrified 
at  his  handiwork.  But  Steve  was  jubilant. 

"  Hop  on,  and  let's  git,"  he  said  easily,  as  Jack  returned 
to  him.  "  Ef  the  wind  don't  change  there'll  be  a  wall  of 


198  Indian  and  Scout 

fire  round  which  them  Injuns'll  have  to  ride,  and  they 
won't  fancy  the  business  over  much.  'Sides,  they'll  have 
to  divide.  There  won't  be  any  knowing  whether  we've 
gone  dead  straight  on  or  have  turned  to  one  or  other 
side.  Gee!  Ef  this  ain't  a  doin'." 

"  Supposing  the  wind  does  turn?"  asked  Jack,  digging 
his  heels  into  the  horse  and  setting  it  at  a  slow  canter. 

"  Yer  won't  have  much  longer  need  ter  worry.  This 
here  trouble  that  you've  got  tucked  out  er  sight  at  the 
back  of  yer  mind'll  be  done  with,  'cos  there  won't  be  no 
escapin'.  This  hoss  couldn't  do  it,  onless  he  had  only 
one  to  carry,  and  I've  got  the  idea  as  you  ain't  goin' 
ter  quit  with  me  till  things  aer  quieted  down  a  bit." 

Jack  heard  the  little  scout  chuckling  as  if  it  were  a 
good  joke,  and  then  felt  his  bony,  strong  fingers  suddenly 
fall  upon  his  hand. 

"  I  ain't  pokin'  fun  at  yer,  lad,"  said  Steve  seriously,  a 
little  jerk  in  his  voice.  "  But  I  aer  fair  amused  ter  think 
that  a  townsman  aer  done  it,  and  aer  been  able  to  show 
Steve  somethin'.  It  jest  fetches  the  wind  out  o'  my 
sails,  as  the  mariners  say.  Yer  see,  bein'  an  old  scout, 
I  kinder  took  you  by  the  hand  ter  show  yer  a  thing  or 
two.  And  kinder  reckoned  ef  we  got  into  a  muss,  as 
ain't  so  unlikely  hereabouts,  I'd  be  able  to  protect  yer. 
But,  gee!  ef  this  ain't  jist  the  opposite.  Reckon  ye've 
saved  my  life  ten  times  over,  Jack.  Ye've  a  right  to 
feel  proud  of  yerself,  for  ye've  done  it  cold.  Do  yer 
foller?" 

Jack  did  not,  and  intimated  that  fact 

"  All  the  same,  there's  no  need  to  say  another  word," 
he  exclaimed  grumpily,  though  his  face  was  flushed  with 
pleasure,  and  he  was  tingling  from  head  to  foot. 


Dodging  the  Enemy  199 

"But  there  aer.  Every  need.  Yer  ain't  goin'  ter 
bully  me  as  ef  I  war  a  kid.  YeVe  ordered  me  about 
till  I  don't  know  as  I'm  right  in  me  head.  There  are  need 
ter  say  more.  Yer  did  it  cold.  I  mean  out  thar  by 
the  buffalo,  when  yer  was  warmed  with  the  chase,  yer 
played  a  right  plucky  game,  and  it  took  some  grit, 
that  did;  but  in  thar  between  the  trees,  when  we  was 
waitin'  and  watchin'  fer  the  enemy,  it  war  cold  shivery 
work,  the  kind  of  stuff  that  sets  men's  knees  knockin' 
tergether  and  their  teeth  chatterin'.  I  ain't  exaggeratin'. 
I've  knowed  brave  men  in  sech  a  fix  get  shiverin'  all 
over.  It  aer  their  nerves,  I  suppose,  and  it's  a  skeary 
feelin'  that  makes  a  brave  man  a  coward.  Now  ye've 
got  the  hang  of  what  I  mean.  Yer  played  that  other 
game  dead  cold.  I  don't  forget  that  I  owe  yer  my  life, 
and  that  it  war  downright  pluck  as  did  it.  So  thar!" 

Having  said  his  say,  Steve,  who  had  become  quite 
garrulous  when  with  Jack,  lapsed  into  silence,  and  pre- 
sently lay  back  against  his  young  protector  as  if  he 
were  utterly  worn  out.  And  so  for  an  hour  the  horse 
cantered  on,  bearing  them  in  the  direction  of  their 
friends.  As  for  the  fire,  it  quickly  assumed  gigantic 
proportions,  and  long  before  the  hour  had  passed  a 
broad  line  of  fire  extended  on  either  hand  rushing 
in  the  opposite  direction.  And  instead  of  the  wind 
changing  round,  it  got  up  as  the  night  advanced,  and 
blew  still  harder,  fanning  those  terrible  flames. 

Half  an  hour  later,  when  their  horse  was  almost  ex- 
hausted, and  his  pace  had  descended  to  a  walk,  Steve 
suddenly  sat  up  and  shook  himself  as  if  he  had  but  just 
awakened. 

"I  seed  somethin'  over  thar!"  he  exclaimed,  pointing 


200  Indian  and  Scout 

to  the  right.  "And  I  guess  as  it  ain't  Injuns.  Likely 
enough  it'll  be  Tom  and  the  boys.  Let's  give  'em  a 
halloo." 

But,  before  he  could  call  out,  a  sharp  hail  came 
through  the  darkness. 

"Stand  thar!"  someone  shouted.  "  Ef  yer  move  we'll 

put  lead  into  yer Jest  sing  out  and  say  whar  yer 

come  from,  and  what's  yer  business." 

"It  aer  Tom  sure  enough,"  cried  Steve.  "Hi,  Tom!" 
he  called  back  at  the  top  of  his  voice. 

In  less  than  a  minute  Tom  and  Jacob  rode  up,  and  at 
once  dismounted. 

"A  fine  scare  ye've  given  us!"  exclaimed  Tom, 
striding  to  the  side  of  the  horse.  "  When  it  fell  night 
and  yer  didn't  turn  up,  we  didn't  make  so  much  of  it. 
'Cos  we'd  heard  shots,  and  thought  ye'd  most  likely 
been  gettin'  meat.  But  when  it  got  later  and  later,  and 
there  warn't  a  sound,  why,  me  and  Jacob  saddled  up  and 
come  back  on  the  trail.  What's  kept  yer?'* 

A  few  words  sufficed  to  tell  them. 

"Yer  can  take  it  for  sartin  as  we've  got  ter  fight  it 
out,"  said  Steve  in  his  cool  voice.  "Them  critters  has 
had  a  knock  as  they  can't  forgit,  and  won't  forgive. 
Two  of  their  young  braves  has  been  downed  by  this 
here  Jack,  and  a  third  aer  got  a  headache  that'll  last 
him  past  the  mornin'.  Wall,  what'll  yer  do?  Yer  kin 
put  me  on  one  side.  I  kin  lie  up  in  the  wagon,  and  I 
kin  shoot.  But  I  ain't  no  good  fer  riding." 

It  was  obviously  a  case  where  conjunction  of  forces 
was  necessary,  and  at  once  Tom  took  Steve  up  in  front 
of  his  saddle,  while  Jack  climbed  up  behind  Jacob. 
Then,  leaving  the  Indian  horse,  they  spurred  away 


Dodging  the  Enemy  201 

across  the  plain,  and  within  an  hour  had  found  the 
camp  and  their  friends. 

"  They'll  be  here  with  the  mornin'  light,  them  critters," 
said  Tom,  addressing  all  hands.  "  And  ef  we've  got  an 
ounce  of  sense  we'll  be  makin'  ready  fer  'em.  Now  it 
seems  to  me  as  we'd  better  carry  on  a  runnin'  fight 
'Cos  ef  we  stay,  and  fix  up  a  bit  of  a  fort,  them 
varmint'll  sit  down  to  starve  us  out,  ef  it  takes  'em  a 
month." 

"That  aer  sense,"  agreed  Jacob.  "There  never  was 
a  critter  ter  sit  down  and  wait  like  an  Injun.  He's  got 
the  patience,  yer  see,  and  doin'  nothin'  kinder  suits  him. 
He  aer  an  idle  dog  when  he's  not  fightin'  and  takin' 
scalps.  Wall,  how's  it  ter  be  done,  Tom?" 

"Jest  like  this.  I  war  in  a  muss  same  as  this  once 
before,  though  there  warn't  so  many  of  the  varmint. 
We  fought  'em  runnin',  same  as  they  do  at  sea  when 
thar's  a  naval  battle.  Guess  that  wagon  aer  big  enough 
to  take  the  hull  crowd,  and,  that  being  the  case,  we'll 
pile  into  it.  Jacob  here'll  drive  the  bosses.  Our  mounts'll 
be  tied  up  along  by  the  wheelers,  so  as  we  kin  get  at  'em 
slippy  ef  we  want.  Then  we'll  make  a  kind  of  cover 
under  the  tilt,  something  that'll  keep  out  their  arrows 
and  bullets,  and  the  same  forward  and  aft.  Ef  we  can't 
make  a  handsome  fight  of  it  then,  why  we  ain't  fit  ter 
get  through.  Let's  have  a  light.  David  and  Jacob  here 
kin  get  to  at  the  cover.  Jest  take  some  of  them  'ere 
empty  sacks  and  nail  'em  to  the  bottom  boards.  Then 
string  'em  up  to  the  tilt  hoops.  When  ye've  kind  of 
made  a  long  sack  yer  can  fill  it  with  grass.  Ef  it's 
stuffed  in  well  it'll  stop  a  bullet,  and  the  weight  won't 
be  anythin'  ter  speak  of.  Make  it  jest  a  nice  height  ter 


202  Indian  and  Scout 

cover  a  kneeling  man.  Jack,  you  kin  jist  sit  down  along 
of  Steve  and  get  to  at  some  food.  Ye'll  want  it  badly 
by  this.  I'll  make  back  along  the  track  a  little  and  keep 
a  watch,  while  ye  other  boys  kin  hitch  the  bosses  in, 
get  the  guns  ready,  and  lay  out  ammunition.  Thar 
ain't  no  use  in  movin'  yet.  Better  wait  till  daylight,  ef 
them  critters'll  allow  us. 

There  was  calmness  and  order  and  method  about 
these  experienced  scouts,  and  at  once  each  man  occu- 
pied himself  with  the  task  allotted  by  Tom.  As  for 
Jack,  he  was  ravenous,  and  at  once  began  to  forage 
for  food  for  himself  and  Steve. 

"You  kin  jist  give  my  back  another  rub  when  we've 
filled  up  inside,"  said  Steve,  "  as  Jack  laid  him  down  at 
the  tail  of  the  wagon.  "  I  kin  move  a  hull  foot  now, 
and  bend  the  knee  a  little.  That  shows  the  works  is 
gettin'  in  gear  again.  But  they've  had  a  mighty  shakin', 
they  have,  and  seems  to  me  it  war  near  bein'  a  bad 
business  altogether." 

Four  hours  later,  when  the  dawn  began  to  break,  the 
little  band  of  scouts  was  marching  slowly  and  steadily 
across  the  plain,  Jacob  plying  the  whip  from  the  front 
of  the  wagon,  where  a  breastwork  of  boxes  had  been 
built  to  protect  him.  On  either  hand  rode  Tom  and 
Seth  and  the  others,  their  eyes  searching  the  plain  for 
a  sight  of  the  enemy.  But  for  a  while  nothing  was  seen 
of  them.  Away  behind  them  a  black  pall  of  smoke 
covered  the  countryside  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  and 
beyond,  no  eye  could  penetrate. 

"  But  they're  there,  the  skunks!"  exclaimed  Tom,  as  he 
rode  knee  to  knee  with  Jack.  "  Steve's  had  a  sight  more 
experience  on  the  plains  than  any  man  of  us,  and  he 


Dodging  the  Enemy  203 

allows  as  thar  ain't  a  chance  but  that  they'll  follow.  As 
fer  me,  I  feel  sure  as  they  won't  dare  to  sit  down  and 
take  their  lickin'  humble.  Yer  see,  it's  a  case  of  what 
their  people'll  say  when  they  returns  home.  Ef  they 
come  with  a  tale  of  defeat  they'll  never  hear  the  end  of  it, 
and  the  squaws  will  jeer  at  them.  They're  dead  bound 
to  go  on  with  the  chase,  and  they  won't  give  it  up  till 
they've  got  our  scalps,  or  till  we've  given  'em  a  proper 
hidin'.  Say,  Carrots,  Steve  aer  talkin'  a  heap.  Aer  it 
all  true  what  he  says?  I  know  he  ain't  the  one  to  make 
a  thing  bigger  than  it  aer,  but  he's  had  a  bad  shake,  and 
maybe  he's  a  bit  wandering.  Aer  it  true  as  you  stood 
beside  him  through  thick  and  thin?" 

Jack  modestly  acknowledged  that  he  had  refused  to 
desert  his  comrade,  and  for  a  while  he  had  to  listen  to 
the  praise  of  the  man  who  had  first  befriended  him. 
Then,  too,  the  other  hunters  rode  their  horses  up — for 
Steve  had  called  them  one  by  one  to  the  wagon,  where 
he  lay  at  full  length — and  eagerly  shook  Jack's  hand. 

"  Yer  ain't  no  longer  a  tenderfoot,"  said  one  of  them. 
"  I  allow  as  a  youngster  can  do  a  brave  thing  once,  and 
save  an  old  hunter's  life.  But  it  ain't  often  a  youngster 
from  the  towns  gets  his  teeth  into  it,  so  to  speak,  and 
when  there's  a  chance  of  skipping  from  a  hull  heap  of 
Injuns,  refuses  point-blank,  but  sticks  to  his  partner. 
And  Steve  says  as  you  got  quite  uppish.  Treated  him 
like  a  kid,  and  that  ef  you  hadn't  done  so  both  of  you'd 
have  gone  under.  Shake,  Jack,  I'm  glad  I  am  along 
with  the  party." 

It  may  be  imagined  that  our  hero  was  covered  with 
confusion;  for  there  was  no  conceit  about  Jack,  and  he 
had  no  desire  to  receive  thanks  or  praise  from  anyone. 


204  Indian  and  Scout 

Still,  all  the  same,  his  senses  tingled,  and  it  was  a  happy 
young  fellow  who  rode  beside  Tom.  For  Jack  felt  within 
himself  that  he  had  acted  as  a  man  should.  He  felt  now, 
more  than  ever,  that  he  could  hold  his  head  up  and  scoff 
at  those  who  had  accused  him  of  that  crime  for  which  he 
would  have  been  convicted  had  he  stayed  at  Hopeville. 
More  than  that,  so  helpful  are  kind  words  from  those 
who  surround  us,  he  began  to  look  to  the  future  hope- 
fully. He  felt  as  if  the  tide  of  misfortune  had  turned, 
and  that  somewhere,  sooner  or  later,  he  would  be  suc- 
cessful in  his  search  for  that  miscreant  who  had  gone  off 
like  a  craven,  and  had  left  no  word,  not  even  a  wish,  to 
clear  the  young  fellow  accused  of  the  crime  which  he 
himself  had  committed. 

"Thar  they  aer,  ridin'  strong!"  cried  Tom,  suddenly 
pointing  across  to  the  left.  "They've  rid  round  the  edge 
of  the  fire,  and  by  the  way  their  cattle  is  goin'  they've 
had  a  longish  way  to  come.  Boys,  it  aer  time  to  get  into 
the  wagon.  Jest  get  yer  barrels  filled,  and  then  lay 
doggo.  There'll  be  time  and  enough  to  fire.  What 
we  want  is  to  coax  them  critters  ter  come  within  easy 
distance,  and  then  we'll  give  'em  pepper.  'Tain't  no  use 
to  play  with  'em.  We've  got  ter  handle  them  roughish, 
and,  when  they  starts  in  shootin',  jest  remember  we've 
got  ter  give  'em  pepper." 


CHAPTER  XIV 

An  Attack  in  Force 

THE  light  was  strong,  and  the  pink  tinge  in  the  sky 
away  to  the  east  was  already  giving  place  to  a  golden 
hue,  the  forerunner  of  a  scorching  sun,  as  the  Indians 
came  in  sight.  Turning  in  his  saddle,  Jack  could  see 
them  riding  in  a  cluster,  and  coming  at  a  sharp  canter. 

"  Likely  as  not  they've  seed  us  ten  minutes  ago,"  said 
Tom,  taking  a  close  view  of  the  pursuers.  "They're 
right  up  agin  that  cloud  of  smoke,  so  that  it  aer  not 
so  easy  fer  us  to  see  them.  But  we're  clear  out  on  the 
plain,  and  anyone  could  spot  the  tilt  of  the  wagon  miles 
away.  Wall,  youngster,  aer  yer  skeared?" 

Jack  laughed.  Somehow,  for  no  reason  at  all,  so  far 
as  he  was  aware,  the  thought  of  the  coming  conflict 
gave  him  not  so  much  as  a  qualm.  Had  the  same 
thing  been  about  to  occur  three  days  ago  he  would 
perhaps  not  have  been  so  cheerful ;  for  it  is  uncertainties 
which  try  men,  doubt  as  to  the  future,  and,  where  blows 
are  to  be  expected,  a  vague  wondering  as  to  how  they 
will  bear  themselves.  But  Jack  had  met  danger  already, 
and  met  it  manfully.  In  his  heart  he  knew  well  that 
he  had  earned  the  esteem  of  these  hardened  scouts, 
and  at  the  thought  he  threw  up  his  head  and  laughed 
again. 

805 


206  Indian  and  Scout 

"Jest  like  that,  aer  it?"  smiled  Tom.  "  Wall,  I  knows 
how  yer  feel,  and  I  ain't  surprised.  Yer  ain't  got  no 
call  to  fear  any  ruction  in  the  future,  'cos  ye've  had  an 
innings,  and  that  teaches  a  chap  a  heap.  But  it  aer 
time  to  climb  into  the  wagon." 

By  now  all  the  friends  were  gathered  close  beside 
the  huge  vehicle  save  Jacob,  who  gripped  the  reins, 
and  Steve,  who  lay  on  the  boards  within.  Not  one  of 
the  men  appeared  anything  but  absolutely  cool.  Indeed 
they  displayed  a  certain  amount  of  cheerfulness  which 
would  have  helped  to  keep  up  the  courage  of  any  weak- 
ling, had  there  been  one  amongst  them.  Slipping  from 
their  saddles,  they  unbuckled  girths  and  carried  the 
saddles  to  the  back  of  the  wagon,  where  one  of  their 
number  built  them  into  a  breastwork.  The  others  at 
the  same  time  made  the  bridles  fast  to  the  headstall 
of  the  wheelers  drawing  the  wagon.  Then,  at  a  call 
from  Tom,  they  came  clambering  into  the  wagon. 

"And  jest  you  watch  them  legs  of  mine,"  sang  out 
Steve  cheerily.  "This  here  Jack's  saved  'em  fer  me 
with  a  bit  of  trouble,  and  it  aer  cost  them  varmint  back 
thar  a  hull  heap,  not  ter  speak  of  a  bad  headache  that 
one  of  'em's  got.  Wall,  jest  keep  yer  big  boots  off  me. 
I  don't  want  ter  discourage  a  youngster,  and  I  jest  want 
ter  show  Jack  thar  that  them  legs  is  goin'  ter  get  useful 
yet." 

They  placed  the  smiling  little  scout  at  the  forward 
end  of  the  wagon,  and  at  his  urgent  request  piled  a  heap 
of  ammunition  at  his  head.  A  biscuit  box  propped  up 
one  elbow,  while  the  sacking,  with  its  thick  padding  of 
grass,  was  pulled  down  a  few  inches. 

"So  that  I  kin  5ee  ter  shoot  over,"  growled  Steve, 


An  Attack  in  Force  207 

"  I  ain't  fergot  as  them  varmint  aer  had  a  bit  of  fun 
outer  me.  Wall,  I  never  did  like  owin'.  I'm  a-goin'  ter 
pay  back  prompt,  and  I'll  give  'em  full  measure  ef  I  can 
work  it." 

By  now  the  enemy  were  within  three  hundred  yards 
of  the  wagon,  and,  looking  out,  Jack  saw  that  they  were 
riding  slowly,  while  a  number  were  bunched  close  to- 
gether, and  were  carrying  on  a  heated  conversation. 
Behind  them  rode  the  younger  men,  and  it  was  clear 
from  the  manner  in  which  they  broke  from  the  throng 
ever  and  again,  and  reluctantly  rejoined  it,  that  they  were 
eager  to  begin  the  attack. 

"  In  course  they'll  divide,"  said  Tom  coolly.  "  And 
some  of  their  best  men'll  be  told  off  to  ride  in  and 
shoot  the  hosses,  or  hamstring  'em  if  they  kin  get  close 
enough.  Wall,  Steve  and  me'll  see  to  that,  and  two  of 
the  others  kin  help.  Jacob'll  shake  up  the  hosses  every 
time  the  critters  make  a  rush,  so  as  to  give  'em  harder 
work  ter  do.  You  others'll  get  in  a  shot  whenever  yer 
kin.  It  don't  need  tellin'  that  yer  might  jest  as  well  not 
shoot  as  miss.  Ye've  got  ter  kill  every  time,  or  damage 
a  man  so  bad  as  he  can't  move." 

"  They're  dividing,"  sang  out  Jack  a  moment  later. 

"  And  by  the  look  of  'em  they're  goin'  ter  play  some 
new  kind  of  game.  Keep  yer  eyes  skinned,  boys,  and 
whatever  happens  don't  let  the  critters  get  too  near  to 
the  hosses.  The  guns  they  has  ain't  much  good  over  a 
hundred  yards.  Jest  keep  'em  that  far  off,  and  we  shan't 
come  to  any  hurt." 

Five  minutes  later  it  was  apparent  that  this  body  of 
Indians  was  led  by  a  crafty  individual;  for,  having 
divided,  instead  of  dashing  forward  and  attacking  the 


208  Indian  and  Scout 

wagon  on  either  side,  the  two  bands,  some  thirty  strong 
in  each  case,  cantered  past  the  wagon  till  they  were  well 
ahead.  Then,  to  Jack's  amazement,  they  spread  them- 
selves out  on  either  side  of  the  track  which  the  wagon 
would  take  if  it  continued  the  course  it  was  then 
following. 

"They've  set  their  mark  on  the  hosses,  boys,"  sang 
out  Tom  at  once.  "Their  game  are  as  clear  as  day- 
light. They're  jest  waitin'  fer  us  to  trail  on  between 
them,  when  every  man'll  let  fly  with  his  popgun.  Ef 
they  bring  down  the  hosses  we're  stranded,  and  they 
kin  then  set  to  work  to  tackle  the  wagon.  Say,  Jacob, 
bring  yer  team  up  smart  towards  'em,  and,  when  yer 
judges  you're  jest  outer  shot,  wheel  'em  sharp  to  the 
left,  and  again  to  the  right  when  you've  run  a  couple 
of  hundred  yards.  That'll  put  all  the  varmint  on  one 
side.  Not  a  shot,  boys,  till  I  shout.  Them  critters  ain't 
got  no  notion  what  sort  of  guns  we've  got.  We  want 
to  coax  'em  nearer,  so  as  we  kin  give  'em  pepper." 

With  the  huge  odds  against  them  it  was  obvious  that 
it  would  be  to  the  advantage  of  the  little  party  of  hunters 
to  inflict  a  severe  lesson  on  the  Indians  at  the  very 
onset  of  the  conflict.  And  all  realized  that  Tom's 
scheme  was  best  calculated  to  bring  that  about.  Kneel- 
ing behind  the  breastwork  formed  all  round  the  wagon, 
the  scouts  peered  out  from  beneath  the  tilt,  their  wea- 
pons ready  to  their  hands.  Jacob,  sitting  high  on  the 
box,  wielded  the  reins  with  a  master  hand.  Leaning  for- 
ward so  as  to  give  his  whip  arm  free  play,  he  sent  the 
long  lash  cracking  and  swishing  over  the  team.  Then, 
having  brought  them  to  a  canter,  he  steered  them  direct 
for  the  open  space  left  between  the  two  lines  of  Indian 


An  Attack  in  Force  209 

horsemen.  There  was  a  howl  of  rage  as  he  swung  the 
team  to  the  left,  and  a  great  galloping  to  and  fro  as  he 
swung  to  the  right  again,  so  placing  the  wagon  to  the 
left  of  the  Indians,  but  just  out  of  gunshot. 

"  Them  fellers  is  jest  cryin'  with  rage,"  laughed  Steve 
as  he  peered  out.  "  Guess  they'll  give  up  all  thought  of 
the  hosses  in  a  little.  It's  clear  agin  Injun  nature  ter 
trouble  with  hossflesh  when  there's  white  folks  about 
and  scalps  to  be  taken.  But  jest  watch  it,  Tom.  Some 
of  'em  will  try  a  rush  in,  so  as  to  put  a  bullet  into  the 
team." 

Indeed,  in  less  than  a  minute  one  of  the  young  braves 
accompanying  the  enemy  suddenly  started  from  their 
ranks  and  galloped  madly  towards  the  wagon.  His 
reins  lay  on  the  horse's  neck,  while  already  his  gun 
was  at  his  shoulder.  Tom  instantly  threw  his  own 
weapon  into  position,  paused  for  a  moment,  and  then 
drew  the  trigger. 

"  Jest  the  right  height,  I  reckon,"  cried  Steve.  "  Yer 
hit  him  plumb,  Tom,  and  it  aer  a  lesson.  But  watch 
it.  There'll  be  more  of  'em  axing  ter  be  killed." 

It  was  not  likely  that  an  old  Indian  fighter  like 
Steve  would  be  mistaken,  and  indeed  the  next  few 
minutes  proved  that,  for  other  braves  dashed  from  the 
ranks,  singly  or  in  twos  and  threes.  And  on  each  occa- 
sion Tom  and  his  comrades  defeated  their  object.  None 
of  their  bullets  went  astray.  The  men  who  were  firing 
were  no  hotheads,  no  untrained  recruits.  They  aimed 
steadily  and  coolly,  and  never  missed. 

"  That  aer  checked  them  fer  a  little,"  said  Tom,  as  the 
Indians  drew  away  and  rode  on  a  level  with  the  wagon, 
but  some  three  hundred  yards  to  the  right.  "They'll 

(0179)  14 


210  Indian  and  Scout 

get  to  and  have  a  palaver  fer  a  bit,  and  then  they'll  try 
a  rush.  That  aer  what  we've  got  ter  fear.  Thar's  a 
good  fifty  of  the  critters  left,  and  ef  they  can  get  all 
round  us,  why,  some  of  'em'll  do  fer  the  team  while 
we're  busy  with  the  others.  Then  there  won't  be 
no  stoppin'  them.  Yer  know  the  game  to  play, 
Jacob?" 

The  big  hunter,  perched  high  on  his  box,  looked 
round  and  grinned  at  Tom. 

"  Yer  bet,"  he  answered.  "  It's  ter  be  a  circus.  Yer 
kin  calkilate  on  me  ter  do  the  right  thing  at  the  right 
moment.  I'll  give  the  team  an  easy  time  till  them 
critters  gets  frisky  agin." 

For  more  than  half  an  hour  the  little  party  proceeded 
on  their  way,  the  team  walking,  while  the  Indians  rode 
their  horses  still  at  the  same  distance  from  the  wagon. 
For  a  while  they  had  stopped,  and  there  had  been  a 
palaver.  Then  they  had  followed  at  a  trot,  and  as  soon 
as  they  were  level  with  the  wagon  had  begun  to  walk 
their  animals. 

"Yer  kin  see  their  new  game,"  cried  Tom  after  a 
while.  "Thar's  roughish  ground  ahead.  Yer  kin  see 
rocks  rising  in  the  grass,  and  they  calkilates  ter  charge 
when  we're  fixed  up  amongst  the  boulders.  Thar 
wouldn't  be  the  same  chance  of  manoeuvring  then,  and 
things  wouldn't  be  so  favourable  by  a  heap.  What  do 
yer  think,  Steve?" 

"  It  don't  want  no  thinkin'.  Ef  we  push  on  into  that 
ere  rough  ground,  we're  doin'  jest  what  them  Injun 
varmint  aer  axin'  us  ter  do.  That  ain't  reasonable, 
and  ain't  the  way  of  men  sich  as  we  aer.  We're  in 
fer  a  muss  with  them  critters,  either  here  or  down 


An  Attack  in  Force  211 

among  the  rocks.  Wall,  do  it  want  decidin'  what  we 
aer  ter  do?" 

"  Pull  the  team  round,  Jacob,"  sang  out  Tom  promptly, 
"and  get  yer  irons  ready,  boys.  Thar'll  be  a  bit  of 
shouting.  Gee!  It  fair  makes  me  grin  to  think  how 
them  critters'll  be  swearin'." 

Once  more  Jacob's  whip  cracked  over  the  team  and 
set  them  in  rapid  motion,  a  pace  which  the  enemy 
rapidly  adopted.  Indeed,  it  seemed  as  if  the  party  at 
whose  capture  or  death  they  aimed  was  actually  hasten- 
ing to  its  own  destruction.  But  the  Indians  had  as 
crafty  a  set  of  men  to  deal  with  as  themselves.  A 
howl  presently  escaped  them  as  Jacob  swung  his  team 
in  a  complete  circle,  and  sent  them  heading  back  over 
the  wheelmarks  they  had  just  made. 

"  Jest  watch  it,  boys,"  sang  out  Tom.  "  Human 
natur  can't  stand  that  'ere  sort  of  thing,  and  Injun 
natur  in  partic'ler.  They've  jest  been  bamboozled,  and 
ef  there  aer  a  thing  that's  sartin  ter  raise  the  dander 
of  them  varmint,  it  aer  bein'  bamboozled.  Jest  keep 
yer  eyes  skinned,  and  start  in  with  the  shootin'  as 
soon  as  they  aer  within  easy  range.  Yer  kin  keep  yer 
shooters  till  they're  up  ter  the  wagon." 

For  five  minutes  perhaps  the  Indians  rode  beside  the 
wagon,  keeping  pace  with  it — for  the  team  had  again 
dropped  to  a  walk — and  maintaining  the  same  distance 
from  it.  Then  Steve  suddenly  drew  the  attention  of 
his  comrades  to  a  remarkable  fact. 

"  Ain't  they  cute!"  he  cried.  "  They're  givin'  the  idea 
that  they're  jest  ridin'  along  at  the  same  distance.  But 
ef  yer  watch  carefully,  them  critters  is  edgin'  in  all  the 
while.  In  a  bit  they'll  be  near  enough  to  make  a  rush. 


Indian  and  Scout 

Jest  sit  tight,  boys,  while  I  put  in  a  sorter  warnin' 
shot" 

He  leaned  well  over  his  sights  and  squinted  along  the 
barrel,  aiming  at  an  Indian  who,  by  his  gestures,  and 
the  manner  in  which  the  others  followed  him,  was  un- 
doubtedly the  leader.  Then  the  interior  of  the  wagon 
was  filled  with  blinding  smoke,  while  a  thundering  de- 
tonation deafened  the  little  party  of  white  men.  In- 
stantly the  Indian  chief  threw  up  his  arms,  fell  back 
on  the  quarters  of  his  horse,  and  slid  to  the  ground. 
And  at  once  there  arose  such  a  babel  of  shouts  and 
shrill  yells  of  anger  that  anyone  might  well  have  been 
alarmed.  For  it  was  contrary  to  Indian  habit  to  give 
way  so  openly  to  wrath.  It  seemed,  indeed,  as  if  the 
conflict  they  had  entered  upon  with  these  whites  had 
tried  the  temper  of  the  enemy  more  than  usual,  and 
if  Jack  had  only  known  it  his  own  unexpected  success 
against  them,  the  manner  in  which  he  had  slain  two 
of  their  most  cunning  young  braves,  had  maddened  the 
others.  They  felt  as  if  their  reputation,  even  their 
bravery,  had  received  a  sore  check.  Now,  on  top  of 
that,  this  solitary  wagon  was  being  manoeuvred  in  a 
manner  which  outgeneralled  all  their  schemes,  for  the 
parties  of  diggers  making  across  the  plains  upon  whom 
the  Indians  were  wont  to  make  attacks  fell  too  easy 
victims  to  their  craft  and  cunning  as  a  general  rule. 

"That  aer  the  end  of  it,"  said  Tom,  turning  to  see 
that  all  was  ready.  "Flesh  and  blood  can't  stand  no 
more  of  sich  knocks,  and  them  critters'll  be  coming." 

The  words  had  hardly  left  his  lips  when  the  whole 
band  of  Indians  swept  their  horses  round  to  face  the 
wagon,  and,  digging  their  heels  into  the  flanks  of  the 


"THE  INDIAN  CHIEF  THREW  UP  HIS  ARMS* 


An  Attack  in  Force  213 

animals,  spurred  them  forward  at  a  mad  gallop.  What 
a  picture  they  made  too!  In  more  or  less  close  forma- 
tion, their  feathered  headdress  flying  in  the  breeze,  and 
the  trimmings  of  their  overalls  and  moccasins  fluttering, 
they  raced  towards  the  wagon  with  eyes  staring  and 
arms  brandished  over  their  heads.  A  perfect  tumult 
of  noise  proceeded  from  their  ranks,  while  they  had 
hardly  covered  ten  yards  before  their  guns  spoke  out, 
sending  bullets  hissing  across  the  space  which  divided 
them  from  the  white  men. 

"Shake  'em  up,  Jacob!"  cried  Tom  at  the  pitch  of 
his  voice. 

But  the  big,  cool  man  handling  the  reins  needed  no 
instructions.  Already  he  was  bending  forward,  while  the 
crack  of  his  long  lash  broke  the  silence  before  the  Indian 
guns  spoke.  He  called  to  the  horses  as  only  a  practised 
teamster  could  do,  and  at  once  the  wagon  swayed  and 
rocked  and  jerked.  Then  it  gathered  momentum,  and 
long  ere  the  enemy  had  approached  within  a  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  the  big,  lumbering  contrivance  was  well 
under  way,  dashing  over  the  prairie  at  a  pace  which 
caused  the  Indians  at  once  to  swing  their  horses  for- 
ward and  gallop  harder  so  as  to  come  within  reach 
In  fact,  it  was  this  sudden  movement  which  proved 
the  safeguard  of  the  little  party  of  hunters.  For  other- 
wise, had  they  been  stationary,  they  would  have  had 
fifty  or  more  of  the  enemy  about  them  at  the  same 
moment,  and  so  quickly,  too,  that  there  would  have 
been  little  time  for  the  rifles  to  make  an  impression. 
As  it  was,  they  had  some  breathing  space,  and  much  use 
did  they  make  of  it. 

"Leaders  always,  mates!"   sang  out  Tom.     "It  aer 


214  Indian  and  Scout 

always  the  best.  It  throws  the  others  into  a  fix  and 
delays  'em." 

Short,  sharp,  and  precise  the  shots  rang  out  from  the 
wagon,  while  the  interior  was  presently  filled  with  thick, 
sulphurous  smoke.  But  that  made  no  difference  to  the 
defenders,  for  the  pace  at  which  they  were  moving  con- 
stantly cleared  the  atmosphere.  It  was  Steve  who  first 
opened  the  duel.  His  weapon  cracked  sharply,  and  at 
once  one  of  the  leading  Indian  horses  fell  with  a  crash, 
throwing  his  rider.  The  animal  following  managed  to 
leap  over  his  fallen  comrade,  but  a  second  tripped,  and 
after  him  a  third  came  to  grief,  leaving  a  pile  of  strug- 
gling men  and  lashing  hoofs  on  the  grass.  But  such 
an  incident  could  not  stop  such  large  numbers.  Spread- 
ing a  little,  they  came  racing  in  towards  the  wagon, 
while  the  heavy  thuds  outside  told  that  bullets  were 
flying.  But  missiles  were  also  passing  in  the  oppo- 
site direction,  true  to  their  mark,  for  each  one  of  the 
scouts  was  a  master  hand  with  a  rifle.  Even  Jack 
made  good  use  of  his  weapon,  and  brought  more  than 
one  of  the  enemy  rolling,  while  the  negro  who  accom- 
panied the  party,  to  tend  to  the  team  and  cook,  helped 
gallantly  in  the  defence. 

"Shooters!"  shouted  Tom  at  length,  when  the  enemy 
were  within  ten  yards.  "  Me  and  Seth'll  see  that  they 
don't  get  nigh  to  the  hosses.  Ye  other  boys  make 
time  with  'em  at  the  sides,  and  jest  see  that  the  critters 
don't  climb  in  behind.  Jack,  post  yerself  thar,  and  give 
'em  fits  ef  they  try  it." 

Dropping  their  empty  weapons,  each  one  of  the  de- 
fenders gripped  his  revolver,  and  in  some  instances  they 
had  two.  As  for  Jack,  he  crawled  to  the  back  of  the 


An  Attack  in   Force  215 

wagon,  and,  leaning  over  the  saddles,  waited  for  the 
time  for  action.  And  it  was  not  long  in  coming.  With 
a  heave  and  a  roll  the  wagon  swung  swarply  to  the  left, 
for  Jacob  was  a  cunning  hand.  And  the  sudden  change 
of  direction  threw  the  aim  of  the  enemy  out.  A  moment 
or  two  before  several  had  been  within  easy  reach  of  the 
wheelers  of  the  team  and  had  drawn  their  tomakawks; 
but  the  swerve  left  them  behind,  while  in  the  case  of 
one  man  on  the  far  side,  the  wagon  bumped  into  him 
with  terrific  force,  and  threw  him  and  his  mount  to  the 
ground.  With  a  shout  the  others  galloped  up  behind, 
and  in  a  second  there  was  a  sea  of  faces,  of  bobbing 
heads,  and  of  tossing  manes  presented  to  our  hero. 

"  Take  'em  cool ! "  shouted  Tom,  who  seemed  to  have 
an  eye  for  everything  and  everyone. 

Jack  levelled  his  weapon  steadily,  aimed  at  the  fore- 
most man,  and  sent  a  bullet  crashing  into  his  head.  At 
the  same  instant  he  was  almost  blinded  by  a  spurt  of 
flame,  while  something  hissed  past  his  head,  and,  passing 
through  the  length  of  the  wagon,  buried  itself  in  the  box 
on  which  Jacob  sat. 

"Bully  fer  ye,  Jack!"  shouted  Seth,  springing  to  our 
hero's  side.  "  Yer  bagged  him  fine,  and  he  near  plugged 
yer.  Get  in  at  'em." 

It  was  short,  sharp  work  at  the  back  of  the  wagon  on 
that  occasion,  and  when  it  was  ended  Jack  remembered 
nothing  beyond  that  first  shot,  the  fall  of  the  Indian, 
and  the  ball  which  had  hissed  past  his  own  cheek. 
Yet,  there  he  was,  standing  beside  the  breastwork  of 
saddles,  holding  an  empty  and  smoking  revolver  in  his 
hand,  while  directly  in  rear  was  a  bunch  of  fallen  men, 
with  their  patient  horses  standing  beside  them.  And  all 


216  Indian  and  Scout 

the  while  he  had  a  dim  perception  that  shots  were  ecno- 
ing  all  round  him.  From  either  side  of  the  wagon  a 
stream  of  bullets  had  hurtled,  and  even  now  men  were 
being  added  to  that  bunch  upon  which  his  eye  was  fixed. 

"Yer  kin  take  it  slow  and  cool,"  sang  out  Tom  at 
last,  his  voice  startling  our  hero.  "  Them  critters  has 
had  their  pepper,  and  ef  they're  wise  they'll  sheer  clear 
off.  Anyone  the  wuss?" 

"Wuss.  Yer  don't  call  that  wuss,  do  yer?"  asked 
Seth  indignantly,  displaying  a  wrist  from  which  a  stream 
of  red  ran.  "  That  ain't  nothin'.  Jest  a  pip  what  hap- 
pened to  come  my  way,  and  kinder  seemed  ter  like  me. 
Boys,  I  aer  been  in  many  a  muss,  and  gee!  I  ain't  the 
one  as  likes  to  come  out  without  somethin'  to  remind  me 
of  it.  That  aer  a  pinprick." 

He  coolly  rammed  cartridges  into  his  empty  revolver, 
reloaded  his  gun,  and  then  with  the  help  of  a  fine  set  of 
teeth  and  a  neckerchief  quickly  bound  up  the  wound. 

Meanwhile  Jack  had  looked  carefully  about  him,  for 
the  smoke  had  again  cleared  from  the  interior  of  the 
wagon.  One  thing  struck  him  with  amazement.  The 
white  tilt  of  the  wagon,  which  had  been  rolled  up  so  that 
the  defenders  could  see  from  beneath  it,  was  no  longer 
the  neat,  nicely  hung  thing  it  had  been.  The  curtain 
was  punctured  in  numerous  places,  while  there  was  more 
than  one  long  slit. 

"Jest  ter  remind  us!"  laughed  Steve,  seeing  Jack's 
attention  was  attracted  to  the  rents.  "Them  critters 
came  close,  and  would  ha'  got  to  the  hosses  ef  it  hadn't 
been  that  Jacob  had  the  ribbons.  But  yer  can  see  how 
close  they  war.  Reckon  this  here  padding  aer  saved 
some  of  us." 


An  Attack  in  Force  217 

It  was  clear,  indeed,  that  but  for  the  timely  prepara- 
tions of  the  scouts  they  would  have  fared  badly,  for 
the  enemy  had  actually  battered  the  outside  of  the 
wagon  with  their  tomahawks,  and  had  their  weapons 
been  loaded  when  they  arrived  at  such  close  quarters 
no  doubt  they  would  have  poured  bullets  into  the 
interior.  But  they  had  expended  their  shots  on  the 
way,  trusting  to  their  terrible  tomahawks  for  close  hand- 
to-hand  work,  an  opportunity  for  which  had  never  been 
allowed  them. 

"  It  aer  been  a  lesson,"  said  Tom,  after  a  while. 
"  These  here  bits  of  padding  ha'  saved  our  lives  no  end, 
while  the  game  of  a  runnin'  fight  aer  bothered  them 
critters  more  than  anything.  Boys,  the  time  aer  come 
to  give  'em  more  pepper.  It  don't  stand  to  reason  that 
we  should  sit  in  here  and  see  'em  palaverin',  and  makin' 
ready  for  more  devilry.  So  I'm  fer  advising  that  Jacob 
swings  the  beauties  round  agin,  and  takes  us  in  amongst 
them  varmint.  Ef  we  goes  on,  we  shows  we  aer  afraid. 
Ef  we  turns  in  amongst  them,  we  lets  'em  see  we're  axin* 
fer  more.  Get  yer  irons  loaded." 

For  a  few  moments  only  the  ring  of  ramrods  was  to 
be  heard,  and  the  click  of  revolver  locks. 

"Guess  we're  ready,"  said  Seth  shortly,  a  wide  grin 
on  his  face.  "  Ef  thar's  a  one  here  as  don't  fancy  the 
business,  he'd  best  get  down  now.  Thar  aer  room  out 
thar  on  the  prairie." 

A  chorus  of  laughter  greeted  this  sally,  but  was 
silenced  by  Tom. 

"Ef  Seth  thar,  Tricky  Seth  as  we  calls  him,  ain't 
specially  careful,"  he  sang  out,  "we'll  hang  him  out  in 
front  as  a  scarecrow  fer  them  varmint  ter  shoot  at. 


218  Indian  and  Scout 

Jack,  jest  you  come  forward.  It  does  a  young  'un  like 
yer  good  to  have  a  bit  of  experience.  Jest  come  along 
with  me  and  keep  a  watch  on  the  hosses.  Now,  Jacob, 
boy,  you  kin  fetch  'em  round  and  give  'em  their  heads ; 
and  don't  ferget  to  swing  them  ef  the  muss  gets  too 
thick.  That  last  turn  of  yours  jest  bamboozled  the 
critters  more  than  anythin'." 

Swinging  the  team  round,  Jacob  set  them  towards 
the  Indians  at  a  smart  pace,  while  a  shout  came  from 
the  scouts. 

"Jest  to  tell  'em  we're  perky,"  smiled  Tom.  "Gee! 
They're  goin'  ter  stand  up  to  it,  so  it'll  be  a  fight.  Boys, 
you  kin  get  in  with  the  shootin'  when  ye're  ready." 

A  short,  sharp  and  extremely  savage  conflict  followed, 
during  which  the  Indians  crowded  round  the  wagon, 
while  Jacob  manoeuvred  his  team  in  such  a  manner  that 
they  could  never  actually  obtain  a  grip  of  the  huge 
conveyance.  And  all  the  while  Tom  and  his  com- 
rades emptied  their  weapons  into  the  enemy,  knock- 
ing numbers  out  of  their  saddles.  Indeed,  never  before, 
in  all  probability,  had  this  particular  tribe  been  so 
severely  handled,  and,  unable  to  face  the  punishment, 
they  turned  swiftly  and  fled,  leaving  many  of  their  com- 
rades dotting  the  plain,  while  no  fewer  than  seventeen 
horses  stood  cropping  the  grass. 

"  Which  shows  that  the  varmint  aer  properly  scared," 
said  Tom  exultingly,  when  the  enemy  had  broken  and 
fled.  "  An  Injun  likes  to  get  away  with  his  dead  and 
wounded  ef  he  kin.  Ef  he  kin't,  and  leaves,  it's  a  sure 
sign  he's  been  mauled.  Boys,  thar  are  hosses  out  thar 
that'll  pay  to  keep.  Let's  get  into  our  saddles." 

Jacob  pulled  in  his  team  with  a  jerk,  while  the  hunters 


An  Attack  in  Force  219 

leaped  from  the  wagon.  Saddles  were  swiftly  thrown 
on  the  backs  of  the  horses  they  had  secured  to  their 
own  wheelers,  and  in  a  trice  they  were  riding  away. 
It  took  but  ten  minutes  to  round  up  the  Indian  ponies, 
which  were  secured  together  by  passing  the  reins  of  one 
through  those  of  another,  and  so  on,  till  all  were  secured. 
"  We  can  move  along  now,"  sang  out  Tom  at  length. 
"  Them  critters  is  away  over  thar  watchin',  and  they'll 
be  back  to  tend  to  their  men  as  soon  as  we're  gone. 
We  ain't  got  nothin'  more  to  fear  from  'em.  We've 
give  'em  real  pepper." 


CHAPTER  XV 

Giving   'em   Pepper 

IT  was  a  jovial  party  which  sat  round  the  camp  fire  on 
the  evening  following  the  defeat  of  the  Indians,  for  even 
the  old  and  tried  hunters  could  not  help  a  feeling  of 
elation. 

*  It  makes  yer  feel  jest  like  a  kid,"  said  Steve,  as  he 
blinked  in  the  firelight,  and  looked  across  at  Jack,  who 
was  tending  the  buffalo  steaks  hissing  over  the  embers. 
"  It  ain't  so  many  hours  ago  as  me  and  Carrots  was,  as 
yer  might  say,  fair  up  agin  it.  I  didn't  look  to  come 
out  clear.  And  yet,  here  we  aer,  and  I'm  watchin'  thim 
steaks  pretty  close,  which  seems  to  show  as  thar  ain't 
nothing  much  wrong." 

"And  the  back,  mate?"  asked  Tom,  striding  across 
towards  him,  and  looking  particularly  big. 

"Jest  as  well  as  ever,"  came  the  hearty  answer.  "  I'm 
that  young  and  skittish,  seems  I  could  kick  the  carrots 
off  Jack's  head.  Hand  over  one  of  them  steaks,  young 
'un.  A  man  same  as  me  don't  oughter  be  kept  waitin'." 

"  We  was  talkin'  of  pepper,"  began  Jacob,  one  of  the 
hunters,  when  the  meal  was  ended,  and  all  were  smoking 
their  pipes.  "  That  'ere  word  minds  me  of  a  time  when 
we  give  them  red  devils  pepper  same  as  we  did  to-day, 
only  'twarn't  in  these  here  parts,  and  we  wasn't  fer 
makin'  gold  in  Californy." 

220 


Giving  'em  Pepper  221 

"  You  kin  get  to  at  the  yarn,"  sang  out  Seth  promptly. 
"Thar  ain't  one  of  us  as  feels  he  aer  got  any  use  for 
a  blanket  yet  awhile,  and  seein'  it's  fine  and  pleasant, 
why  jest  wet  yer  throat,  and  then  let's  have  it  from 
the  beginnin'." 

He  leaned  across  to  the  hunter  and  handed  him  a 
brimming  pannikin,  which  he  had  just  replenished  from 
the  keg  of  spirit  the  party  carried,  and  from  the  water 
bag  in  which  the  precious  fluid  was  stored.  Jacob  let 
his  head  fall  back  promptly,  raised  the  pannikin,  and 
for  the  moment  the  silence  which  had  fallen  on  the  camp 
was  broken  by  the  gurgle  of  the  fluid. 

"Thanks,  mate,"  gasped  Jacob,  getting  his  breath. 
"  We  was  talkin'  of  pepper." 

"We  war,"  admitted  Steve,  edging  a  trifle  closer  to 
the  fire. 

"  And  we  aer  fair  greedy  fer  the  story,"  smiled  Tom. 
"You  ain't  got  no  call  ter  look  up  ter  the  sky.  The 
yarn  ain't  thar.  Ye've  got  it  stowed  in  yer  head. 
Give  it  a  shake  and  out  with  it.  Ef  not,  I'll  send  Car- 
rots here  ter  see  whether  a  little  hammerin'  won't  help 
you  any." 

There  was  a  hearty  laugh  as  Tom  spoke,  but  the 
words  made  not  the  smallest  difference  to  Jacob.  He 
sat  back  on  his  elbows  staring  up  at  the  sky,  as  if  endea- 
vouring to  collect  memories  of  past  times.  Jack  took  a 
look  at  the  big  hunter,  wondered  whether  he  himself 
would  ever  present  such  a  decidedly  manly  appearance, 
and  then  fell  to  admiring  the  heavens  too.  For  they 
were  on  the  verge  of  California,  and  overhead  hung  a 
cloudless  vault,  speckled  with  such  bright,  twinkling 
stars  that  even  the  moon  rays  were  paled. 


222  Indian  and  Scout 

"  It  war  a  night  same  as  this,"  began  Jacob  at 
length,  "jest  fer  all  the  world  same  as  this.  The  stars 
and  moon  that  bright  and  clear  yer  could  see  to  read 
easy.  Wall,  I  ain't  here  ter  tell  of  the  stars  and  sich- 
like.  I'm  mindin'  the  time  when  I  was  workin'  the 
cattle  fer  a  boss  a  goodish  way  south  of  this,  in  a 
country  that's  even  now  more  Injun  than  anythin'.  He 
was  rough,  war  that  'ere  boss,  and  we  ended  a  long  day 
amongst  the  beasts  with  sharp  and  bitter  words.  I  'low 
as  a  man  as  hires  me  has  a  right  ter  git  the  value  of  his 
dollars  outer  me.  But  I  don't  cotton  to  no  bossin'.  I 
don't  see  that  'cos  a  man  employs  a  hand  he  has  a  right 
ter  bully  him,  ter  shout  names  at  him,  and  rile  him  every 
hour  of  the  day.  That  ain't  in  reason." 

He  looked  round  the  assembled  scouts,  as  if  to 
gather  their  views  on  the  matter. 

"  Git  on  with  it,"  shouted  Steve  shortly. 

"  Them's  my  views  in  a  nutshell,"  cried  Tom.  "  No 
man  ain't  goin'  ter  be  bullied." 

"So  I  thought,"  continued  Jacob.  "And  though  it 
war  evenin',  and  dark  to  be  expected  precious  soon,  I 
jest  give  the  boss  back  some  of  the  lip  he'd  been 
throwin'  at  me,  and  at  the  same  time  told  him  I  war 
quittin'.  We  squared  up  the  wages  right  off,  and  then 
I  climbed  into  my  saddle  and  rid  away  from  the  farm. 
I  war  mighty  angry  and  hot." 

"  And  likely  as  not  didn't  take  no  partic'lar  direction," 
sang  out  one  of  the  listeners. 

"Ye've  got  it  right  and  early.  I  was  that  mad  with 
the  boss  I  jest  kicked  the  flanks  of  my  hoss  and  rid  right 
off  like  a  whirlwind.  But  a  man  finds  a  gallop  across 
the  grass  kinder  clears  his  brain,  and  takes  the  anger 


Giving  'em  Pepper  223 

out  of  him.  I  soon  got  to  rememberin'  that  I  hadn't 
touched  a  crust  sense  breakfast,  and  that  war  early 
with  the  sun  risin'. 

"Ye're  a  fool,  Jacob,"  I  says  to  myself.  "Ye've  rid 
off  hot  and  hasty,  like  a  child,  and  now  ye've  got  ter 
suffer.  Whar's  best  to  go?" 

"  The  hoss  could  tell  yer,"  cried  Tom. 

"Right  agin!"  agreed  Jacob.  "That  hoss  knew 
better  than  me  whar  I  was  likely  to  find  food.  I've 
seed  the  same  thing  many  a  time  out  on  the  plains. 
Ef  a  man's  lost,  and  don't  know  from  Adam  whar  he 
aer,  it's  better  to  give  a  free  rein  and  leave  it  to  the 
mount.  Suppose  he  scents  somethin'.  Anyway  he 
generally  knows  whar  he's  likely  to  get  a  feed  for 
himself  and  a  drop  of  water.  I  jest  give  my  critter 
his  head,  and  somewhar's  about  eleven  that  night  we 
come  to  a  shanty  with  a  wooden  stockade  right  round 
it." 

"  Same  as  settlers  has  in  an  Injun  country,"  remarked 
Steve. 

"The  very  same,  and  seems  they  need  them  'ere 
stockades.  Wall,  thar  the  shanty  was,  outlined  clear 
in  the  light,  lookin'  that  peaceful  yer  wouldn't  ha' 
thought  a  fly  could  ha'  come  to  harm.  But  I  hadn't 
got  within  seventy  yards  when  thar  was  a  flash  from 
the  house,  high  up  under  the  roof,  and  then  a  loud 
report." 

"  Injuns  in  already,"  ventured  one  of  Jacob's  com- 
panions. 

"  Wrong,  fer  sure,"  growled  Steve.  "  Ef  Injuns  had 
been  thar,  they'd  have  burned  the  place  within  a  few 
minutes.  A  white's  house  aer  pison  to  an  Injun.  It 


224  Indian  and  Scout 

makes  him  fair  mad.  He  can't  keep  his  hands  off  it, 
nor  fire  away  from  the  roofin'." 

"  That  comes  of  havin'  Injun  experience,"  said  Jacob, 
resuming,  and  sending  a  nod  in  Steve's  direction.  "  It 
warn't  Injuns.  All  the  same,  when  thar's  bullets  flyin', 
reckon  one  don't  sit  still  thinkin'.  I  was  off  my  hoss 
in  a  jiffy,  gettin'  cover  under  the  stockade.  Then  I  put 
my  hands  to  my  mouth  and  sent  the  folks  in  the  house, 
whoever  they  might  be,  the  shout  we  was  used  to  give 
in  them  parts.  Heard  it?" 

He  did  not  wait  for  an  answer,  but  put  his  hands  at 
once  to  his  lips,  and  sent  forth  a  halloo  which  awoke  the 
echoes. 

"Thar  ain't  no  mistake  about  a  call  like  that,"  said 
Jacob,  decision  in  his  tones,  "and  the  folks  in  that 
shanty  couldn't  help  but  know  that  it  was  a  white 
man  outside,  one  as  was  friendly." 

"  And  so  the  shootin'  stopped,"  suggested  Tom. 

"  Wrong.  A  bit  of  a  bullet  kicked  a  stone  at  my  feet 
and  sent  me  howlin'.  Reckon  a  flint  can  hurt  most 
same  as  a  bullet.  Anyway,  that  'ere  stone  give  me 
a  blow  that  staggered  me.  And  after  it  half  a  dozen 
shots  rang  out  from  the  shanty." 

"  What  in  thunder  did  it  all  mean?"  asked  one  of  the 
men. 

"  And  then  there  was  a  shout,  an  answerin'  shout." 

"  Yes,"  said  Steve,  edging  a  trifle  closer,  "  an  answerin' 
shout." 

"  A  woman's  shout.  A  shrill  sort  of  a  scream.  A 
thing  you  couldn't  call  a  shout,  but  there  ain't  no  other 
name  as  I  knows  of." 

Jacob   looked  round   at   his   audience  questioning^ 


Giving  'em  Pepper  225 

while  each  one  of  the  party  wore  a  different  expression 
on  his  face. 

"  Reckon  you  was  wishin'  you  hadn't  row'd  with  the 
boss,"  grinned  Tom. 

"  P'raps  you  had  failed  asleep  on  your  hoss,"  cried 
Seth,  "and  was  sorter  dreamin'." 

Jacob  snorted  with  indignation.  "As  ef  that  war 
likely,"  he  cried.  "Didn't  I  say  as  I  howled  with  pain 
when  the  flint  struck  me?  No.  You're  guessin'.  The 
shanty  war  there,  standin'  black  in  the  moonlight,  and 
them  shouts  were  real.  They  were  shrill,  and  come  from 
a  woman.  They  kind  of  scared  me  fer  a  minute." 

"  Yer  bolted  again?"  asked  Steve. 

"  I  jest  hooked  the  reins  over  the  corner  of  a  post 
standin'  outside  the  stockade,  and  clambered  over." 

"  More  bullets,"  suggested  one  of  the  men. 

"Shots,  yes,  but  not  in  my  direction.  Thar  was 
shoutin',  a  man's  and  a  woman's,  and  then  shootin'. 
Then  the  door  of  the  shanty  war  opened  and  I  ran 
in." 

Jacob  stopped  for  a  moment  at  the  most  critical  point 
in  his  narrative,  causing  all  his  comrades  to  sit  up 
expectantly. 

"Wall?"  demanded  Tom  irritably,  stuffing  his  pipe 
with  his  finger. 

"  It  was  Injuns,"  asserted  one  of  the  men.  "  Yer  was 
taken  by  a  bit  of  foolin'." 

"  It  warn't,"  answered  Jacob  shortly  and  curtly.  "It 
war  a  madman." 

"A  madman!  A  madman!"  The  words  were  bandied 
from  one  to  another.  The  listeners  looked  askance  at 
one  another,  for  madness  out  on  the  plains  was  in  those 

(0179)  15 


226  Indian  and  Scout 

days  exceptional,  and  in  nearly  every  case  ended  in  a 
terrible  tragedy. 

"Man  or  woman?"  asked  Seth.  "Seems  cither's 
likely." 

"  It  war  the  man,"  said  Jacob  slowly.  "  It  war  the 
man,  a  white  man,  same  as  you  and  me.  Seems  he'd 
gone  suddenly  crazy  at  sight  of  me,  and  set  to  at 
shootin'.  It  war  his  wife's  voice  I'd  heard,  her's  and 
her  two  boys.  When  I  got  in  to  the  sorter  parlour 
place  in  the  centre  of  the  shanty,  thar  she  war,  with 
the  two  young  'uns,  holdin'  on  to  the  man  fer  their  lives." 

"Gee,  that  war  strange!"  muttered  Steve.  "P'raps 
something  outer  the  ordinary  had  scared  him." 

"Or  he'd  been  thinkin'  so  long  about  Injuns,  and 
likely  attacks,  that  the  thing  had  kind  of  got  on  his 
mind  and  unhinged  it.  I've  heard  tell  of  a  similar 
thing  afore.  A  man  gets  fidgety,  specially  ef  he  ain't 
used  to  Injuns  and  the  plains,  and  ain't  been  brought 
up  to  the  life.  His  nerves  git  shook  up,  and  one  fine 
day,  when  there  ain't  no  real  danger,  he  takes  his  own 
shadow  for  an  enemy,  and  blazes  off  with  his  gun. 
Often  enough  it's  someone  he's  most  fond  of  that  he 
shoots." 

Tom  delivered  himself  of  the  statement  calmly  and 
slowly.  Then  he  carefully  refilled  his  pipe,  while  his 
comrades  looked  round  at  one  another.  Jacob,  the 
slow,  ponderous  Jacob,  who  so  seldom  launched  into 
a  tale,  had  provided  the  camp  with  a  subject,  a  riddle, 
and  all  struggled  to  come  to  a  solution. 

"  It  war  that,  or  near  it,"  agreed  Tricky  Seth. 

"Or  he'd  been  ill,  and  was  jumpin'  mad  in  his 
delirium/'  suggested  another, 


Giving  'em  Pepper  227 

"  I  dunno  as  you're  right  or  wrong,"  came  slowly  from 
Jacob.  "Reckon  he  war  ill,  ill  with  grief  and  anxiety, 
and  reckon  his  nerves  was  fair  shook  up.  He  war  mad, 
stark,  starin'  crazy  without  a  doubt,  and  we  had  to  make 
him  fast  so  as  he  shouldn't  do  anyone  a  mischief." 

"  Yer  ain't  told  us  why,"  cried  one  of  the  men.  "  What 
had  come  along  to  upset  this  here  man  so?  Somethin' 
outer  the  ordinary." 

"  Yer  kin  guess  so.  It  war  somethin'  outer  the 
ordinary,  and  sense  I  started  this  here  yarn  by  sayin' 
that  I  knew  of  a  time  when  we'd  given  the  critters 
real  pepper,  you  can  'low  as  it  war  Injuns  as  war  the 
cause.  Injuns  had  come  along  and  upset  this  man  till 
he  was  worried  clean  off  his  head.  Now  I'll  tell  yer 
how  it  happened.  Allen  Rivers  war  a  new  settler  out 
in  them  parts,  a  brave  man  fer  all  his  madness.  He'd 
been  warned  time  and  agin  to  beware  of  the  Injuns, 
specially  of  Hawk  Eye,  a  critter  that  was  chief  of  a 
tribe  huntin'  in  that  neighbourhood.  And  yer  must 
understand  that  although  trouble  with  the  redskins  war 
as  a  general  thing  to  be  expected,  yet  thar  war  times 
when  powder  and  lead  and  sichlike  articles  was  runnin' 
short  in  the  wigwams,  and  the  critters  had  need  to  come 
in  to  the  white  man's  settlements  and  be  friendly.  Allen 
Rivers  had  set  up  a  sorter  store.  He'd  had  visits  from 
the  Injuns,  and  he'd  done  smart  business  with  Hawk 
Eye.  The  chief  had  been  that  smilin'  that  Allen  had 
taken  him  into  the  stockade,  and  once  into  the  house, 
and  the  Injun  had  been  able  to  get  a  good  look  round. 
Wall,  Allen  had  two  boys — the  youngsters  that  met  me 
on  the  doorstep — twelve  and  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
proper  plucked  'uns  too;  thar  war  his  wife,  as  brave  a 


228  Indian  and  Scout 

woman  as  you  could  meet  in  a  week's  march,  and  besides 
them  three,  a  baby,  a  gal.  Wall,  now " 

Jacob  coughed.  He  was  one  of  those  slow  men  who 
take  a  deal  of  rousing,  and  who  seldom  indulge  in  a 
yarn,  but,  when  once  induced  to  speak,  do  so  at  their 
own  pace  and  leisure.  The  burly  scout  was  exas- 
peratingly  slow  in  his  utterance. 

"  Ye've  got  to  the  pith  of  it,"  sang  out  Steve.  "  Thar 
war  a  baby." 

"Thar  war.  A  baby  gal,  and  Injuns  has  a  strange 
sorter  likin'  fer  baby  gals  as  is  the  children  of  white 
people.  They  thinks  they  bring  'em  good  luck;  and 
it  seemed  as  Hawk  Eye's  own  wife  hadn't  got  no 
children.  No  doubt  the  chief  got  to  tellin'  her  of 
Allen  Rivers's  shanty,  of  his  wife  and  kids,  and  set  her 
wishin'  fer  the  gal.  Anyway,  Hawk  Eye  had  done 
trade  with  Allen  jest  two  days  before  I  come  there, 
and  seemed  to  have  ridden  back  to  his  own  place.  But 
that  very  mornin'  the  child  was  taken,  taken  from  its 
bark  crib,  which  Mrs.  Allen  had  jest  set  down  outside 
the  door  of  the  shanty.  And  though  every  one  of  'em 
searched  fer  all  he  could,  and  though  Allen  climbed 
on  to  his  horse  and  rid  round  and  round,  thar  warn't 
a  trace  of  the  kid,  not  a  trace.  But  one  of  the  boys 
picked  up  a  feather,  and  then  they  knew  as  it  war 
Hawk  Eye  and  his  people  that  had  done  it." 

"  I've  knowed  a  similar  thing,"  said  Steve,  interrupting. 
"  Them  critters  looks  upon  a  white  kid  as  likely  to  bring 
'em  victory  in  their  fightin',  and  fortune  in  their  huntin'. 
You  aer  made  no  error.  Push  on  with  it,  Jacob." 

"Allen  guessed  that  ef  they'd  taken  the  kid  they 
might  be  up  to  more  mischief,  and,  bein'  a  nervous, 


Giving  'em  Pepper  229 

jerky  sort  of  feller,  blest  ef  he  didn't  go  off  his  head. 
That's  whar  we  get  to  when  I  arrived.  Allen  warn't 
no  more  good.  He  war,  instead,  a  worry.  Thar  war 
me  and  the  two  boys  and  Mrs.  Rivers." 

"  With  Injuns  round  about?" 

"With  the  critters  on  the  far  side  of  the  stockade," 
agreed  Jacob.  "  Seems  I  had  missed  'em  by  a  chance. 
I  was  jest  a  quarter  of  an  hour  too  early  for  'em.  But 
I  hadn't  been  in  the  shanty  more'n  a  few  minutes,  and 
had  made  Allen  fast,  when  I  seed  a  figure  clamberin' 
over  the  gate  of  the  stockade.  Remember,  it  war  a 
bright  night,  same  as  this,  and  dead  agin  the  Injun's 
chances.  But  they  reckoned  to  take  the  place  easy,  and 
wasn't  over  cautious." 

"  Yer  give  that  feller  pepper?"  asked  Seth. 

Jacob  nodded.  "  I  dropped  him  same  as  a  bird,  and 
that  set  'em  howlin'.  The  shot  took  'em  all  by  sur- 
prise. They  looked  to  have  the  gate  of  the  stockade 
open  and  to  be  in  the  shanty  afore  Allen  and  his  wife 
war  properly  awake.  The  critters  set  up  a  howl  that 
was  enough  to  scare  one,  and  then  three  of  'em  came 
clamberin'  after  the  man  I'd  shot. 

"'Jest  get  to  them  other  windows,  boys,'  I  sang  out; 
fer  there  were  loopholes  in  the  corners  of  the  shutters 
on  all  four  sides  of  the  shanty.  '  Shoot  down  any  man 
as  yer  kin  see,  and  ef  ye're  bothered,  jest  sing  out.  I'll 
be  with  yer  in  a  jiffy.' 

"  Countin'  Mrs.  Rivers  thar  was  just  four  of  us,  and 
for  ten  minutes  we  was  kept  precious  busy.  But  them 
lads  could  shoot,  and  their  mother  like  'em,  so  that, 
presently,  the  critters  crept  off  from  the  stockade,  leavin' 
seven  of  their  braves  chewin'  the  grass  inside.  Yer  see, 


230  Indian  and  Scout 

they'd  stood  out  clear  and  easy  as  they  climbed,  and,  the 
range  bein'  a  short  one,  thar  warn't  no  missin'. 

" '  Gone?'  asks  Mrs.  Rivers,  when  there  wasn't  no  more 
of  'em  to  be  seen. 

"'Don't  yer  believe  it,  ma'am,'  I  answered.  'Thim 
critters  has  got  their  eyes  on  the  goods  in  this  store,  and 
fer  that  reason  they  ain't  likely  to  give  up  the  business. 
And  now  there's  those  braves  down  thar.  We've  killed 
seven  of  'em,  and  the  others  won't  dare  to  go  back  to 
their  wigwams  with  sich  a  tale,  and  with  nary  a  scalp  to 
show.  They're  bound  to  come  agin,  and  we've  got  to 
look  precious  lively.  Thar  ain't  no  sayin'  whar  they'll 
come,  but  come  they  will,  yer  kin  take  my  davy.  Ef 
I  wasn't  sure  that  the  critters  was  outside,  I'd  suggest 
that  one  of  the  youngsters  tried  to  leg  it  away  from  the 
shanty  so  as  to  fetch  help.  But  they're  outside,  the 
skunks,  and  on  a  night  same  as  this  the  lad  wouldn't 
stand  a  ghostly.' 

"  Wall,  mates,  we  got  back  to  our  loopholes,  and  kept 
a  pretty  close  watch  fer  a  couple  of  hours  without  seein' 
a  sight  of  them  Injuns.  But  they  was  thar,  close  out- 
side. I  heard  'em  callin'  to  one  another.  Then  suddenly 
I  cottoned  to  what  the  artful  critters  was  doin'.  The 
moon  was  sinkin',  but  as  bright  as  ever,  and  them  Injuns 
reckoned  that  one  of  the  walls  of  the  stockade  was 
castin'  a  biggish  shadow  on  the  yard  inside.  They  war 
busy  diggin'  their  way  in  under  it." 

There  was  a  murmur  from  the  hunters  assembled 
round  the  fire. 

"  Jest  like  the  critters,"  growled  Steve.  "  I've  knowed 
'em  do  the  same  in  similar  cases.  And  the  wust  of  the 
business  aer  this:  yer  kin  feel  sure  as  that  aer  their 


Giving  'em  Pepper  231 

game,  and  sense  the  shadow's  deepest  in  one  partic'lar 
spot,  yer  kin  reckon  to  a  foot  or  two  whar  they're 
diggin'.  But  yer  can't  stop  the  varmint.  Ef  yer  put 
an  eyelid  over  the  stockade,  there's  a  man  ready  with  an 
arrow,  and  ef  you  think  to  blaze  at  'em  through  the 
woodwork,  why,  it  aer  like  loosin'  off  a  gun  into  the  air. 
Even  ef  you  hit  a  man,  the  others  jest  lie  quiet,  so  yer 
don't  know  what's  happened.  But  maybe  one  of  the 
critters  gets  to  the  hole  ye've  made  in  the  stockade,  and 
then  it's  your  turn  to  look  out  fer  bullets." 

"  Jest  so.  That's  how  we  war  situated,"  agreed  Jacob. 
"  It  war  one  of  them  tarnation  bothers  that  tries  a  man's 
nerves.  I'd  been  in  more  than  one  ruction  with  the  red- 
skins afore  that  day,  and  I  knew  somethin'  about  the 
critters.  It  war  as  clear  as  daylight  that  when  they  war 
ready  they'd  let  the  earth  on  our  side  fall  in,  and  then 
the  varmint  would  come  rushin'  fer  the  shanty.  It  war 
an  almighty  fix.  It  jest  made  me  give  up  thinkin'. 
I  got  lookin'  fer  the  first  of  them  critters  to  come  clam- 
berin'  in,  and  listenin'  all  the  while  to  Mrs.  Rivers  prayin'. 
Then  one  of  them  bright  lads  come  out  with  a  suggestion." 

"Ah!  That's  like  Carrots,"  ventured  Tom.  "Tain't 
always  the  old  hand  that  kin  manage  a  fix  of  that  sort. 
What  war  his  partic'lar  idea?  Blest  ef  I  ain't  mighty 
bothered." 

"  I'll  tell  yer.  It  war  a  case  with  him  of  kill  or  cure, 
as  you'll  agree  as  I  get  on  with  the  story.  And  he 
didn't  come  straight  to  me  to  ask  what  I  thought  of  the 
business.  Joe  war  his  name,  and  a  kid  chuck-full  of 
larnin'.  Wall,  seems  he  got  rummagin'  in  the  place 
whar  his  father  stored  the  stuff  he  traded  with  the 
Injuns,  and  then  slips  outer  the  door. 


232  Indian  and  Scout 

" '  Joe's  gone  out  ter  see  what  he  kin  do  with  'em/  says 
Hal,  his  brother,  comin'  across  the  shanty  to  where  I  was 
watchin'.  *  Jest  see  you  don't  shoot  him.' 

"Yer  kin  guess  I  was  mighty  surprised.  'Gone  out- 
side!' I  cried.  'Why,  they'll  shoot  him  quicker  than 
ever  I  shall.  What  for?  What's  he  doin'?'" 

"  Hal  hadn't  a  notion,  and  so,  seein'  as  something 
precious  bad  might  come  of  it,  I  slipped  out  of  the 
shanty  to  join  him.  And  when  I  came  to  the  edge  of 
the  stockade  whar  we  reckoned  the  Injuns  was  diggin', 
there  warn't  a  doubt  that  they  was  there,  on  the  far  side 
of  the  woodwork,  precious  near  ready  to  break  through 
and  finish  the  matter.  Joe  war  there,  lyin'  on  his  face, 
and  sense  I  knew  they'd  hear  me  ef  I  even  whispered,  I 
laid  down  beside  him  and  learned  what  he  was  doin'. 
He  was  diggin'  fast  with  his  fingers,  tearin'  the  turf  and 
soil  away  bit  by  bit,  and  makin'  not  so  much  as  a  sound 
to  give  the  enemy  a  warnin'.  Within  four  feet  of  him, 
perhaps,  there  was  Injuns  workin'  at  the  same  game, 
cuttin'  the  earth  away  with  their  knives  and  tomahawks, 
and  ef  I  was  asked  to  guess  their  true  position,  I  should 
say  as  they  were  closer  even  than  that,  and  in  a  little 
while  would  be  carving  their  way  into  the  hole  which 
Joe  war  making. 

"  Two  foot  ahead  of  Joe  there  war  a  dark  object,  and 
when  I  crept  across  to  feel  around  it,  and  see  what  it 
was,  you  kin  guess  I  jest  started.  It  war  a  powder  keg, 
same  as  we  carry,  already  opened,  and  ready  for  firin'." 

There  was  excitement  now  on  the  faces  of  the  men 
gathered  round  the  camp  fire.  Excitement  and  some 
curiosity.  For  difficulty  and  danger  were  everyday 
affairs  to  these  scouts,  and  a  tale  which  demonstrated 


Giving  'em  Pepper  233 

the  cunning  of  the  Indians,  and  the  bravery  and  resource 
of  those  who  were  opposed  to  this  deadly  enemy,  was 
always  sure  of  an  attentive  hearing.  Tom  drew  in  a 
deep  breath,  while  Steve  grunted. 

"  Powder,"  he  said,  as  if  he  were  thinking  deeply. 
"That  war  a  kill -or -cure  remedy  sure!  Seems  to  me 
that  ef  you  could  be  sartin  of  gettin'  the  hull  crowd  of 
the  Injuns  close  together,  yer  might  kill  a  heap  and  scare 
the  rest  so  badly  as  to  make  'em  ride  away.  But  ef  yer 
failed,  why,  it  stands  to  reason  yer  would  blow  a  hole 
through  your  stockade  big  enough  to  allow  a  hull  tribe 
of  the  critters  to  pass,  and  might  jest  as  well  be  askin' 
fer  a  funeral.  Get  along,  Jacob.  Yer  make  a  man  want 
to  be  tellin'  the  story  hisself,  instead  of  waitin'  fer  you." 

"  It  war  a  case  of  kill  or  cure,"  agreed  the  burly 
scout,  ignoring  Steve's  remarks,  "but  Joe  warn't  the 
boy  to  spoil  his  plan  for  a  bit  of  waitin'.  He  finished 
that  hole  while  I  lay  thar,  and  popped  in  his  keg  extry 
careful.  Then  he  rammed  the  earth  round  it  with  his 
fists,  laid  his  fuse,  and  sat  listenin'. 

" '  We'll  wait  till  one  of  them  strikes  the  keg  with 
his  knife,'  he  whispered,  fer  the  Injuns  happened  to 
be  making  a  tidy  heap  of  noise,  and  so  there  warn't 
no  fear  of  their  hearin'.  'That'll  be  the  time  ter 
fire  it.' 

"'And  jest  yer  remember  to  lie  as  flat  as  yer  kin 
when  yer  put  down  the  match,'  I  answered.  'The 
explosion  of  that  powder  will  smash  the  stockade  to 
pieces,  and  I  ain't  so  sure  as  it  won't  wreck  the 
shanty.' 

"  Wall,  to  come  to  the  end  of  it,  Joe  waited  there 
listenin'  like  a  terrier  till  there  war  the  sharp  click  of 


234  Indian  and  Scout 

a  knife  falling  on  the  keg,  and  a  grunt  from  one  of 
the  Indians.  That  war  enough  for  us.  Joe  and  I  crept 
away  from  the  place  as  quickly  as  we  could,  yer  may 
guess,  and  lay  down  agin  at  the  far  end  of  the  trail, 
which  was  jest  outside  the  shanty.  Then  Joe  lifted 
his  pistol,  laid  the  muzzle  along  the  train,  and  drew 
his  trigger  as  steady  as  if  he  warn't  shootin'  nothin'  in 
partic'lar.  Them  critters  was  smashed  to  pieces.  That 
is,  eight  or  nine  of  them  was  killed  by  the  explosion." 

A  chorus  of  exclamations  came  from  the  assembled 
hunters.  There  was  a  sparkle  about  their  eyes  which 
showed  that  they  had  listened  to  the  narrative  with 
more  than  usual  attention. 

"Gee!  That  war  a  brave  kid!"  cried  Seth.  "A 
right  down  plucked  'un!  What  happened?  The  hull 
stockade  war  blown  to  matchwood,  one  would  guess, 
and  perhaps  the  shanty  with  it?  Git  on!  Fer  a  slow 
'un  ye're  as  bad  as  any  I've  ever  met." 

Jacob  grinned.  He  was  slow,  and  he  knew  it.  At 
the  same  time  he  was  far  too  cool  and  burly  an  indi- 
vidual to  be  intimidated. 

"  I  never  was  a  hustler,"  he  said,  "  and  I'm  too  old 
now  to  begin.  Ef  Seth,  thar,  Tricky  Seth,  as  he's 
ginerally  known,  aer  in  a  hurry,  why,  I'll  quit  talkin', 
and  he  kin  take  the  field.  I'm  always  game  to 
listen." 

"Get  in  at  it,  Jacob,  man!"  shouted  Tom,  shaking 
his  fist  at  the  hunter.  "That  'ere  kid  fired  the  trail 
with  his  pistol,  and  the  keg  of  powder  blew  the  Injun 
varmint  to  pieces.  Wall " 

"  Wall,  someone's  asked  about  the  stockade.  It  war 
broke  into  tiny  oieces.  Joe  and  me  was  hoisted  pretty 


Giving  'em   Pepper  235 

nigh  on  to  the  roof  of  the  shanty,  while  the  door  of  the 
place  was  shook  clear  off  its  hinges.  Old  man  Rivers,  as 
was  as  mad  as  any  hatter  a  minute  before,  was  blowed 
back  to  his  proper  senses.  Leastwise,  all  I  knows  is 
that  he  was  crazy  afore  the  explosion,  and  afterwards, 
when  me  and  young  Joe  had  picked  ourselves  up,  and 
had  kinder  cleared  the  dust  and  dirt  away — fer  we  was 
properly  covered — Allen  war  smilin'  all  over,  and  talkin' 
to  his  wife  as  ef  he  hadn't  never  been  mad.  And  warn't 
he  proud  of  that  ere  kid ! " 

"What  about  the  Injuns?"  demanded  one  of  the 
listeners  eagerly;  for,  after  all,  the  whole  point  in  the 
narrative  depended  upon  them.  Scouts,  one  and  all, 
could  appreciate  a  gallant  if  desperate  action,  fer  they 
were  brave  men  themselves;  but  their  interest,  once 
the  tale  of  daring  and  courage  on  the  part  of  their  own 
race  was  told,  was  centred  in  the  common  enemy, 
the  Red  Indian  warrior,  the  fierce  man  of  the  plains 
who  had  waged  such  ceaseless  warfare  with  the  white 
invaders  of  his  hunting-grounds,  who  had  caused  them 
such  cruel  losses,  and  who,  because  of  his  terrible 
cruelty — because  he  killed  not  men  alone,  but  women 
and  children — was  detested  by  hunters  and  prospectors 
throughout  the  country.  It  was  the  attackers  Seth  and 
his  comrades  longed  to  hear  about. 

"They  was  blowed  to  pieces,"  said  Steve.  "Wall, 
what  become  of  the  rest?  There  was  more  than  eight 
or  nine  of  the  varmint." 

"  There  was  fifty,  as  we  reckoned,"  said  Jacob 
solemnly,  "and  they  was  scared  pretty  nigh  outer 
their  lives.  Hawk  Eye,  him  that  had  caused  the  whole 
ruction,  rid  off  as  ef  there  was  powder  kegs  exploding 


236  Indian  and  Scout 

under  his  horse's  heels  all  the  way;  and  reckon  they 
got  back  to  the  wigwams  fewer  than  when  they  left, 
and  with  a  yarn  to  give  that  would  make  the  squaws 
howl  at  'em.  They  was  beat,  mates,  badly  beat,  and 
a  slip  of  a  boy  did  it.  Old  man  Rivers  had  come 
back  to  his  senses  properly,  and  guess  he  set  to  at 
once  to  rig  up  his  stockade  again,  and  make  all  ready 
against  another  attack.  And  ef  he  was  a  wise  man — 
and  I  heard  tell  as  his  madness  didn't  ever  occur 
agin — he  never  afterwards  made  the  mistake  of  lettin' 
a  red-skinned  varmint  look  into  his  store.  Them 
critters  is  never  to  be  trusted.  Ef  they  find  ye're 
rich,  ye've  kinder  asked  them  to  come  in  the  first 
time  thar's  an  opportunity,  and  take  yer  scalp  and 
everything  that's  yours.  Keep  the  varmint  at  arm's 
length  is  my  motto;  or,  better  still,  keep  'em  always 
well  ahead  of  your  gun,  and  see  as  ye've  powder  and 
ball  handy." 

The  burly  hunter  subsided  into  silence,  reached  for 
the  pannikin,  and  poured  himself  out  a  helping  of 
spirit.  He  filled  up  with  water,  tossed  his  head  back 
into  characteristic  position,  and  again  the  gurgle  of 
fluid  was  heard.  For  scouts  were  rough  men;  their 
manners  were  not  of  the  nicest. 

As  for  his  listeners,  they  began  a  very  animated 
discussion  as  to  the  merits  of  the  yarn  just  nar- 
rated, and  the  incident  of  which  Jacob  had  been 
a  witness  recalled  many  another  incident,  totally  un- 
like that  recorded  by  him,  but  nevertheless  showing 
the  courage  and  resource  of  the  white  man  and  the 
determination  of  the  common  enemy.  Then  Steve 
imposed  silence  upon  the  group  by  stirring  the  fire 


Giving  'em  Pepper  237 

vigorously  with  his  boot  and  causing  the  sparks  to  fly 
upwards. 

"  Mates,"  he  said  in  his  dry-as-dust  style,  "  mates, 
this  here  Jacob  ha'  given  us  a  yarn  that  kinder  stirs 
a  man,  and  we  aer  glad  to  hear  as  he  had  a  hand  in 
beatin'  them  varmint.  He  was  caught  in  a  muss,  so 
to  say,  and,  seein'  he  had  rowed  with  his  boss,  and 
got  lost  on  the  plains,  why,  seems  he  had  hisself  to 
blame.  Still,  ef  he  hadn't  arrived  at  old  man  Rivers's 
shanty,  them  critters  would  ha'  broke  in,  fer  Jacob 
shot  down  the  first  as  climbed  the  stockade.  He  came 
out  of  the  muss  nicely,  and  now  that  he  ha'  told  us,  he 
has  gone  silent  agin,  same  as  he  is  generally.  But  he 
ain't  finished,  not  by  a  bit." 

All  looked  across  at  the  burly  hunter.  Jacob  was 
filling  his  pipe  in  a  dogged  sort  of  manner,  and  scowled 
at  Steve  as  he  finished  speaking. 

"  Thar  ain't  no  more,"  he  growled ;  "  leastwise,  none 
that  I'm  goin'  ter  tell.  Besides,  it's  husky  work  talkin'. 
I've  finished.  Reckon  it's  time  we  took  to  our  blankets." 

"  Yer  ain't  said  never  a  word  about  that  'ere  kid 
that  Hawk  Eye  stole  from  the  Rivers's,"  accused  Steve, 
pointing  a  finger  at  Jacob. 

"  And  I  ain't  goin'  ter,"  came  the  short,  sturdy 
answer.  "  I've  done  talkin'  fer  the  night.  Time  we 
was  turnin'  in." 

There  was  a  scowl  on  his  face,  and  something  more. 
The  big  scout,  usually  so  stolid  and  so  transparently 
straightforward,  looked  confused  and  almost  ashamed 
of  himself.  He  made  a  grimace  at  Steve,  and  com- 
menced to  rise  from  his  seat.  But  Tom  put  a  heavy 
hand  on  his  shoulder, 


238  Indian  and  Scout 

"  Steve  aer  the  lad  fer  spottin'  things,"  he  laughed. 
"  Let's  have  the  rest  of  the  yarn." 

"  I  ain't  goin'  ter  talk  no  more,"  came  the  surly 
answer. 

"  Then  I'll  give  the  yarn,  mates." 

It  was  Bill  Huskins  who  spoke,  "  Black  Bill ",  as  he 
was  known,  because  of  his  dark  complexion.  He  was 
short  and  wiry,  like  Steve,  a  merry  enough  fellow,  but 
given  to  taciturnity  and  silence,  as  was  customary 
with  scouts  He  grinned  across  at  Jacob,  ignored 
his  threatening  gestures,  and  then  put  himself  into  a 
position  of  ease,  as  if  determined  to  tell  his  tale,  what- 
ever happened. 

"  I  war  along  with  that  'ere  boss  as  had  the  words 
with  Jacob,"  he  announced,  "  and  seein'  as  Jacob  thar', 
ain't  able  ter  speak,  why,  I'll  get  in  with  the  yarn. 
Thar's  more  to  tell.  A  hull  heap  more.  That  'ere 
kid  was  took  right  off  to  Hawk  Eye's  wigwams,  and 
it  stands  to  reason  white  folks  wasn't  goin'  ter  sit  down 
and  put  up  with  sich  a  thing.  'Sides,  Mrs.  Rivers  swore 
as  she'd  ride  there  all  alone  herself,  ef  there  wasn't  a 
man  ter  do  it.  So  in  course  we  went,  and  here's  what 
happened." 


CHAPTER   XVI 

The  Bashful  Jacob 

IT  was  useless  for  the  burly  Jacob  to  frown  and  scowl, 
and  shake  a  threatening  fist  at  Black  Bill.  The  latter 
took  not  the  slightest  notice,  save  that  the  reflection 
from  the  camp  fire,  falling  upon  his  dusky  features, 
showed  a  certain  twinkling  of  the  eye  which  was  some- 
what unusual. 

"You,  Bill  Huskins,  yer  ain't  no  friend  of  mine  ef 
yer  get  to  talkin',"  growled  Jacob  at  last,  seeing  that 
grimaces  made  no  difference,  and  had  no  effect  upon 
his  comrade.  "  I  gives  yer  fair  warnin'  that  that  tale 
ain't  to  be  repeated.  These  here  mates  of  ours  ain't  got 
no  interest  in  it.  'Sides,  it's  time  we  war  in  our  blankets." 

"  I  dunno,"  exclaimed  Tom  warmly,  holding  his 
fingers  to  the  blaze.  "  I  dunno  so  much  about  that, 
Jacob.  There's  men  here  as  would  be  glad  to  listen. 
It  might  come  to  you  or  ter  me  ter  marry  one  of  these 
here  days,  and  then  ef  a  kid  of  ours  was  snatched  by 
the  red-skinned  varmint,  we'd  get  to  and  remember 
a  yarn,  and  maybe  find  something  in  it  to  help  us. 
Jest  you  sit  still  and  chew  a  plug  of  'bacca.  Bill,  fire 
away.  It  aer  only  Jacob's  'tarnal  bash  fulness." 

"  My,  you  should  ha'  seen  him  when  he  rid  up  with 
young  Joe  Rivers  beside  him,"  said  Bill,  nothing  loath 


240  Indian  and  Scout 

to  tell  the  story,  and  grinning  widely  at  the  irate  Jacob. 
"Jest  put  yerselves  in  his  place  fer  a  few  seconds. 
Here  was  Jacob,  not  so  old  as  he  aer  now  by  a  goodish 
bit,  riding  back  to  join  an  outfit  he'd  left  jest  a  few 
hours  afore,  and  left  too  with  words  hot  and  fiery  agin 
the  boss.  There's  only  two  ways  of  lookin'  at  a  thing 
like  that.  It  aer  right  down  cheek,  or  it  aer  murder 
that  brings  a  man  back.  I've  seen  men  as  was  fired 
from  an  outfit,  and  went  away  peaceful.  But  they  got 
to  thinkin'  that  they  war  injured.  They  sat  broodin' 
over  the  matter,  till  their  danders  was  properly  up,  and 
then  they  rode  back  to  face  that  'ere  boss  and  have 
it  out  with  him.  Guess  it  looked  as  ef  Jacob  thar 
had  rid  back  fer  a  ruction,  and  old  man  Staples  as 
was  our  boss  must  have  thought  the  same.  Any  way, 
he  sees  Jacob  comin',  and  then  gets  his  hand  down 
close  to  his  shooter.  I  war  ridin'  in  from  the  opposite 
direction,  and  when  I  caught  a  sight  of  Jacob,  I  slipped 
outer  my  saddle  and  got  round  the  end  of  the  shanty. 
Bullets  gets  flyin'  on  sich  an  occasion,  and  a  man  ain't 
no  use  when  he  gets  in  their  way.  He  can't  easily  stop 
'em.  They  has  a  way  of  layin'  him  out" 

There  was  a  chorus  of  approval  from  the  assembled 
hunters,  and  even  Jacob  gave  a  nod.  Indeed,  his 
growling  and  his  grimaces  had  all  been  a  part  of  his 
dissembling.  To  the  looker-on  it  seemed  that  there 
must  be  something  about  this  part  of  the  yarn  with 
which  he  disagreed,  something  perhaps  likely  to  lead 
to  his  own  embarrassment.  But  he  could  enjoy  the 
recollection  of  his  action  with  regard  to  the  boss  with 
whom  he  had  exchanged  heated  words. 

"  It  war  cheek,"  he  agreed.   "  Gee!    Now  that  I  comes 


The  Bashful  Jacob  241 

to  think  of  it,  he'd  have  been  in  the  right  ef  he  had  shot 
me  down  without  a  word  and  without  waitin'." 

"  He  wasn't  sich  a  bad  feller,"  continued  Bill.  "  Old 
man  Staples  had  a  softish  heart  under  as  rough  a  skin 
as  ever  I  saw.  He  dropped  his  hand  to  the  butt  of  his 
gun,  as  I've  said  already,  and  kinder  worked  his  way 
along  till  he  stood  behind  one  of  the  big  corner  posts 
of  the  stockade.  Then  he  took  a  close  look  at  Jacob 
and  at  the  boy.  Yer  should  ha'  seen  our  mate  over 
than  He  climbs  outer  his  saddle  extry  slow.  Guess 
he  was  wonderin'  how  he  was  to  get  to  at  the  matter. 
Then  he  walked  straight  up  to  Staples. 

"'Yer  ain't  got  no  cause  to  fear  me,  boss,'  he  says. 
'  I  ain't  here  to  quarrel.  As  man  to  man  I  tell  you 
that  you're  over  rough  with  your  tongue,  and  that 
there's  few  but  blacks  that  could  stand  it.  I'm  here 
to  ask  fer  help.' 

"That  took  Staples'  breath  away.  'Help!'  he  calls 
out,  as  ef  he  was  puzzled.  '  A  few  hours  ago  you  rid 
away  as  hot  as  anything,  and  then  I  was  the  last  man, 
according  to  your  own  words,  that  you'd  come  to  for 
anything  in  the  way  of  help.  What's  it  mean?' 

" '  It  isn't  fer  me  I  want  it,'  says  Jacob.  '  It's  fer  the 
kid's  mother  and  father.' 

"  Wall,  when  the  matter  were  put  before  old  man 
Staples  and  the  boys,  yer  may  reckon  there  wasn't 
much  jawin'." 

Bill  looked  round  the  circle,  and  there  came  an 
emphatic  nod  from  each  of  the  men. 

"  I'll  give  'em  all  due  credit,"  admitted  Jacob  warmly. 
"  Old  man  Staples  and  every  one  of  the  outfit  was  hot 
to  get  to  at  Hawk  Eye.  Yer  don't  have  to  ask  hunters- 

(0179)  16 


242  Indian  and  Scout 

and  cattlemen  twice  when  thar's  a  rescue  to  be  tried, 
specially  when  it's  a  kid  that's  been  taken,  and  the 
Injun  critters  has  something  ter  do  with  the  matter. 
Reckon  the  chance  of  a  fight  with  them  varmint  would 
draw  any  man  from  the  ranches." 

" '  Yer  kin  count  on  every  man  jack  of  us,'  sings  out 
Staples;  'and,  Jacob,  you  and  I'll  agree  to  be  friends  fer 
the  time  being.  Shake  hands,"'  continued  Bill.  "'Thar's 
seventeen  of  us  here,  and  we'll  call  in  at  Romney's 
ranch  on  the  way  across  to  Rivers's  shanty,  and  pick 
up  his  crowd.  He's  sure  to  have  some  twenty  to  thirty, 
so  we'll  be  nearly  fifty  when  we're  ready.  Now,  boys, 
get  to  and  pack  grub  and  ammunition.  We'll  be  off 
in  ten  minutes.' 

"  It  war  quick  work,  mates,"  said  Bill,  looking  round 
for  the  approval  of  his  fellows.  "  But  men  of  an  outfit 
same  as  that  aer  pretty  nigh  always  ready  fer  some- 
thing. Thar  was  enough  dried  flesh  in  the  camp  to 
feed  fifty  men  fer  more  than  a  week,  and  of  course  we 
had  heaps  of  powder  and  lead.  Men  don't  take  to 
ranching  in  an  Indian  country  onless  they  have  good 
guns,  and  plenty  of  the  proper  stuff  to  put  in  'em.  And 
so,  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  we  war  ridin'  away, 
nineteen  of  us  in  all,  counting  Jacob  and  Joe,  and  with 
our  mate  thar  and  the  boss  he'd  rowed  with  so  lately 
riding  ahead,  chattin'  as  ef  thar'd  never  been  a  word 
between  them.  That's  how  chaps  of  our  sort  act  when 
thar's  trouble  in  the  air,  and  someone  is  askin'  fer  help." 

The  dark -featured  scout  looked  into  the  fire  for  a 
while,  and  took  a  breathing  spell,  while  his  mates 
nodded  their  approval.  They  knew  thoroughly  well 
the  truth  of  Bill's  statement,  Out  on  the  wide  plains 


The  Bashful  Jacob  243 

of  America  men  quarrelled  just  as  they  did  in  the  cities. 
Indeed  their  quarrels  were  rather  more  frequent  than 
amongst  men  working  under  different  surroundings,  and 
often  enough  resulted  in  severe  wounding,  or  in  the 
death  of  one  of  the  contestants.  But  they  could  and 
did  sink  the  most  pressing  personal  quarrels  when  duty 
called,  and  to  these  rough  men,  inured  to  every  sort 
of  hardship,  there  was  no  duty  that  appealed  so  forcibly 
as  one  where  the  rescue  of  a  fellow  white  was  concerned. 
A  woman  sought  for  their  help.  That  in  itself  was 
sufficient.  That  call  was  so  strong  that  there  was  not 
a  man  in  the  plains  who  could  ignore  it,  and  not  one, 
who,  if  he  were  coward  enough  to  be  deaf  to  such  a  call, 
could  continue  to  live  in  friendship  with  the  hunters 
and  cattlemen.  He  would  be  branded  as  a  craven,  and 
forced  to  ride  from  the  country.  Remember,  in  con- 
sidering this,  that  these  hunters  of  whom  we  write  were 
the  descendants  of  men  who  had  fought  for  and  won 
America,  and  that  their  sons  to-day  form  a  part  of 
that  nation  which  is  the  wonder  and  envy  of  the  world. 

"  At  Romneys  we  was  extry  lucky,"  said  Bill.  "  It 
happened  that  he'd  fitted  out  a  big  outfit,  and  there 
war  thirty -three  men,  counting  Romney  himself  and 
one  son.  At  Rivers's  shanty  we  picked  up  the  other 
boy,  leaving  Allen  hisself  to  ride  back  ter  Romney's  with 
his  wife,  for  it  warn't  safe  for  them  to  remain  behind 
in  a  ruined  stockade.  Then  we  set  to  ter  follow  Hawk 
Eye,  and  Jacob  thar  warn't  long  in  lickin'  up  the  trace. 
My,  this  talkin'  do  tell  on  a  feller.  Just  get  to  at  it  fer 
a  bit,  Jacob  boy.  Yer  ain't  no  need  ter  fear.  I'll  take 
on  agin  when  ye've  got  right  into  the  business." 

It  was  a  clever  manoeuvre  on  Bill's  part.     As  he  was 


244  Indian  and  Scout 

telling  his  yarn  he  had  kept  an  eye  on  the  burly  scout, 
and  noticed,  with  a  grin  of  delight,  that  Jacob  could  not 
restrain  his  own  interest.  Indeed  it  was  only  natural 
that  the  narration  of  deeds  which  he  had  himself  helped 
to  carry  out  should  rouse  any  hunter,  nor  was  it  won- 
derful that  Jacob,  forgetting  his  former  behaviour,  and 
surliness,  should  at  once  comply  with  Bill's  request. 

"  He's  put  it  right,  yer  may  take  it,  mates,"  he  said 
in  his  slow  manner.  "  It  warn't  long  afore  we  dropped 
on  Hawk  Eye's  traces,  and  then  we  set  out  to  follow 
slowly.  In  a  general  sorter  way  we  knew  that  the 
varmint  had  his  camp  thirty  miles  west  of  Rivers's 
shanty,  but,  in  course,  he  war  often  moving.  An  Injun 
don't  stay  long  in  one  country.  As  soon  as  beasts  begin 
to  get  few  he  moves,  onless  thar's  other  attractions." 

"  Sich  as  scalps,"  interrupted  Steve. 

"  Or  men  and  women  to  be  murdered  without  a 
chance  of  gettin'  hurt  yourself,"  added  Jacob  bitterly. 
"That's  what  makes  us  chaps  hate  them  critters  wuss 
than  pisen.  Ef  they  fought  us  alone,  and  with  all 
their  cunning,  we  shouldn't  want  ter  grumble,  'cos  all's 
square  and  fair  in  this  sorter  warfare;  but  when  they 
gits  to  killing  women  and  children,  then  it  makes  a 
man's  blood  boil.  I  reckon  it  aer  bound  to  be  warfare 
between  white  and  red  man  to  the  bitter  end,  till  the  red 
varmint  aer  cleared  outer  existence.  Wall,  I  was  sayin', 
we  picked  up  Hawk  Eye's  trace,  and  rid  after  him  easy. 
Fer  we  knew  he'd  have  moved.  It  stood  to  reason  that 
he  would  expect  ter  be  followed,  fer  wheniver  thim 
critters  has  stolen  a  child  before,  us  hunters  and  scouts 
has  never  rested.  It  ain't  likely  neither." 

"  It   ain't,   ver   bet,"   came   emphatically  from   Tom. 


The  Bashful  Jacob  245 

'The  bosses  on  the  ranches  has  a  hard  time  ter  get 
men  when  thar's  sich  a  case.  A  chap  kin  camp  out 
on  the  plains  with  his  mates,  and  spend  not  a  dollar. 
He  don't  need  ter  work  fer  a  time,  and  kin  shoot  all  his 
food.  So,  when  them  Injuns  has  done  a  thing  same 
as  this,  the  boys  give  up  work.  They  settle  down  to 
life  in  the  open,  and  they  turn  to  huntin'  the  critters 
till  they're  wiped  out.  Git  on  with  it." 

Jacob  glared  at  Tom.  He  realized  that  he  was  slow, 
but  here  was  an  excuse.  Tom  had  deliberately  inter- 
rupted him. 

"  He  warn't  thar  when  we  came  to  his  camp,"  he  said 
deliberately.  "And  his  ashes  was  stone  cold,  showing 
that  the  squaws  had  stamped  them  out  the  instant  he 
arrived  back.  They  may  have  left  at  once,  thar  warn't 
no  sayin',  sence  the  ashes  war  cold.  But  me  and  old 
man  Staples  put  our  heads  together,  and  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  they  hadn't  hustled.  Yer  see,  Hawk 
Eye  had  rid  thirty  miles  hard,  and  his  hosses  must  have 
been  done.  Then  it  takes  a  time  to  pack  up  an  Injun 
village.  Them  critters  don't  leave  their  squaws  and 
children  behind,  same  as  we  would  ef  we  was  fightin' 
against  white  people.  They  know  that  their  own  red 
brothers  would  slaughter  the  lot  ef  the  fighting  happened 
to  be  against  them.  And  they  ain't  never  given  us 
whites  a  chance  to  show  what  we're  made  of.  They 
can't  believe  that  we  would  leave  women  and  children 
alone,  and  even  feed  them  ef  need  be.  Howsomever,  he 
warn't  there,  so  the  next  business  was  to  find  out  whar 
he'd  gone  to." 

"  Yer  may  put  it  down  fer  sure  it's  the  mountains," 
said  Staples,  who'd  seen  a  heap  of  Injun  fightin'. 


246  Indian  and  Scout 

"Thar's  other  red  tribes  up  thar  in  the  gullies,  and 
ef  Hawk  Eye  can  set  up  a  friendship  with  them,  or 
make  'em  believe  that  we're  comin'  to  attack  the  hull 
lot,  then  in  course  we  have  got  a  precious  lot  of  work 
before  us.  What  do  you  say?" 

"  I  said  I  was  with  him.  But  we  couldn't  afford  ter 
make  a  mistake,  and  so  we  divided,  thirty  of  us  ridin' 
slow  towards  the  mountains,  while  twelve  followed 
Hawk  Eye's  trail  across  the  prairie.  It  ran  clear  from 
the  village  away  from  the  mountains." 

"  It  did,"  interrupted  Bill,  agreeing  emphatically.  "  I 
war  one  of  them  twelve,  and  I'll  tell  yer  what  happened 
to  us.  We  rid  fifteen  miles  straight  off  over  the  plain 
till  we  came  ter  a  river.  It  war  jest  a  bit  of  a  thing, 
twenty  feet  wide,  and  pretty  shallow.  On  the  far  side 
yer  could  see  whar  the  Injuns  had  climbed  out  of  the 
water,  fer  the  grass  was  all  beaten  down.  Guess  they 
war  travelling  with  all  their  horses,  and  the  wigwam 
poles  war  slung  in  their  usual  way,  trailing  behind.  Wall, 
there  war  the  marks  of  the  poles  on  the  ground.  They 
ran  on  for  a  mile,  then  stopped  altogether." 

There  was  a  chuckle  from  more  than  one  of  the  scouts. 
The  trick  played  by  the  Indians  was  so  simple  that  none 
of  them  could  possibly  have  been  taken  in.  Each  one 
knew  that  it  was  an  old  Indian  custom,  when  travelling, 
to  sling  the  wigwam  poles  to  the  horses,  letting  the  ends 
trail  on  the  ground  behind,  and  loading  their  belong- 
ings, including  their  women  and  children,  on  the  poles, 
converting  them,  in  fact,  into  a  species  of  wheelless  cart. 

"  They  jest  hooked  up  the  poles,  turned,  and  came 
back  to  the  river  in  course,"  said  Tom  with  a  significant 
look. 


The  Bashful  Jacob  247 

"  They  did  that.  The  hull  crowd  of  the  critters  rid 
their  horses  fer  five  miles  up  the  stream.  Then  they 
took  to  the  grass  again,  and  their  trail  cut  clear  up  fer 
the  mountains.  We  didn't  need  to  follow  too  closely. 
We  knew  that  Jacob  and  his  crowd  would  hit  upon  the 
tracks  higher  up,  and,  sure  enough,  when  we  come  up 
with  'em  that  evenin'  they  was  camped  beside  the  trace. 
Next  day  we  rid  on  up  a  gully,  still  followin'  the  tracks, 
and  that  second  evenin'  hit  upon  the  spot  Hawk  Eye 
had  chosen.  He  war  an  artful  cuss.  Ef  ever  thar  war 
one,  it  war  him.  He  warn't  cornered,  don't  yer  think 
it.  But  he  war  thar,  almost  within  shoutin'  distance. 
Now,  Jacob,  yer  kin  come  in  agin." 

"  Yer  kin  guess  whar  they  was,"  said  the  latter  shortly. 
"  Hawk  Eye  and  his  women  and  children  had  taken  to 
a  cliff  that  was  as  steep  as  a  wall,  and  higher  than  any 
yer  ever  saw.  He  knew,  in  course,  that  we  would  follow, 
though,  accordin'  to  his  nature,  he'd  played  every  sort  of 
cunning  trick  to  throw  us  off  the  trace.  And  when  we 
got  thar,  he  sat  up  on  the  face  of  his  cliff  grinnin'  at  us. 
Guess  he  thought  he  war  dead  safe.  Along  with  him 
he  had  his  women  and  children — the  hull  tribe,  in  fact. 
Yer  could  jest  see  the  tips  of  their  wigwams  laid  out 
back  of  a  flat  place  near  the  top  of  the  cliff  Above  them 
thar  was  jest  red  rock,  with  a  broken  edge  at  the  top. 
But  don't  get  thinkin'  we  could  come  at  them  from  that 
direction.  There  was  a  hull  crowd  of  the  critters  on  the 
sky  line,  letting  us  take  a  square  look,  jest  to  kind  of 
remind  us  that  they  war  ready  in  case  we  war  inclined 
ter  do  a  bit  of  climbing  ourselves.' 

"  It  war  a  tarnation  tough  job,  it  war,"  admitted  Jacob, 
scrubbing  his  bristly  chin  with  the  back  of  a  hand  which 


248  Indian  and  Scout 

was  huge,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  and  burned,  by  the  sun 
and  exposure,  to  a  dirty-brown  colour." 

"  Yer  was  beat  fer  the  moment,  so  to  say,"  suggested 
Steve,  stirring  himself  and  stretching  his  legs.  "  But  yer 
wasn't  fer  givin'  in." 

"  We  warn't,"  came  stolidly  from  Jacob.  "  It  stands  to 
reason  we  wasn't  goin'  back  to  the  ranches  with  the  kid 
still  in  the  Hawk  Eye's  wigwams.  We'd  kinder  sworn 
to  get  done  with  the  job,  and  in  course  we  war  fer 
stayin'.  But  there  warn't  a  single  sarcumstance  as 
seemed  likely  to  help  us.  Yer  could  look  round  that 
'ere  gully,  and  thar  you  was  same  as  before.  Jest  the 
plains  runnin'  away  from  under  your  feet  right  out  into 
the  open,  a  bit  of  a  rocky  hill  to  the  right  standin'  all 
alone,  and  then  the  cliff,  the  face  of  a  mighty  big 
mountain.  Yer  might  say  as  we  could  ha'  ridden 
round,  mounted  from  the  far  side,  and  then  come  along 
ter  the  Injun  camp.  But  Hawk  Eye  knew  what  he  was 
doin'. 

" '  Thar  ain't  no  use  thinkin'  of  the  far  side,'  said  old 
man  Staples  when  we  asked  him.  '  It's  too  rough  fer 
bosses,  and  if  we  was  to  go  afoot  we  should  be  dropped 
upon  by  other  tribes  of  the  varmint.  That  'ere  Hawk 
Eye  climbed  up  that  cliff.  That's  what  we've  got  to 
do,  so  the  sooner  we  sets  to  work  to  find  the  path  he 
followed  the  nearer  we  aer  ter  rescuing  the  kid.' 

"  Wall,  it  war  a  teaser,  and  no  mistake.  Yer  couldn't 
get  near  enough  to  Hawk  Eye's  post  to  take  a  clear 
look  but  yer  was  fired  at  by  his  critters,  and,  sence  they 
had  guns  in  plenty,  it  war  precious  warm  work,  so 
warm  that  old  man  Staples  called  us  off. 

" '  Best  form  a  camp  and  get  to  watchin'  the  varmint,' 


The  Bashful  Jacob  249 

he  said.  *  My  idea  is  that  we  take  up  a  post  on  this 
here  hill.  It'll  show  Hawk  Eye  that  we  ain't  fer 
leavin',  and  I've  a  sorter  notion  that  when  we  git  higher 
we  shall  have  a  chance  of  seein'  more,  and  perhaps  of 
gettin'  a  sight  of  the  path  used  by  the  Indians.' 

"  It  war  sound  advice,  and  in  course  we  followed  it. 
We  rid  our  hosses  to  the  hill  that  stood  all  alone  by 
itself,  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the  cliff,  and  then 
me  and  Bill  thar  was  sent  ahead  to  locate  a  path  easy 
fer  the  hosses.  We  found  it  after  a  goodish  bit,  and 
went  up.  It  was  steep,  in  course,  too  steep  fer  hosses  as 
a  general  rule.  But  them  critters  we  rode  out  on  the 
ranches  was  as  clever  as  cats,  and  hills  didn't  frighten 
'em.  This  one  war  a  goodish  deal  higher  than  ye'd  have 
thought,  lookin'  at  it  from  below;  and  when  we  war  on 
top  thar  was  Hawk  Eye's  camp  as  plain  as  possible. 
Thar  was  grass,  too,  fer  our  hosses,  and  a  spring  throw- 
ing water  into  a  hollow,  from  which  it  trickled  down 
the  side  of  the  hill. 

" '  Jest  the  likeliest  place  that  ever  was,'  says  Bill  thar. 
*  I'll  go  down  and  call  up  the  others.' 

"  It  war  nigh  sundown  before  we  was  all  located  in 
the  camp,  and  in  course  we  warn't  able  to  eat  and 
smoke  and  sleep  as  ef  we  war  in  a  friendly  country. 
There  ain't  never  no  knowing  what  an  Injun'll  be  up 
to,  and  so  old  man  Staples  war  right  when  he  posted 
ten  of  us  as  a  lookout,  with  ten  more  to  relieve  in  two 
hours'  time,  and  so  on,  through  the  night.  As  to  Hawk 
Eye,  he  and  his  critters  didn't  seem  to  take  no  notice 
of  our  movements.  They  let  their  fires  die  down  soon 
after  sunset,  and  then  thar  warn't  a  sound  from  'em. 
But  they  wasn't  sleepin'." 


250  Indian  and  Scout 

"Yer  bet!"  came  sharply  from  Tom.  "I've  lived  in 
this  here  country,  man  and  boy,  and  most  times  thar's 
been  Injuns  around.  Wall,  it  aer  pretty  near  always 
war  to  the  knife  between  them  and  whites.  It  ain't 
that  we  don't  want  ter  live  peaceful  with  them.  We 
do.  But  they  can't  kinder  see  a  white  man  anywhar 
but  they  want  to  take  his  scalp.  Seems  we're  nateral 
enemies.  Anyway,  I  guess  that  that  'ere  Hawk  Eye 
and  his  braves  wasn't  fer  bein'  so  quiet  and  harmless  as 
they  seemed.  We  ain't  forgot  that  Joe,  with  Jacob  to 
help  him,  had  blowed  some  ten  of  them  to  pieces.  Yer 
ain't  goin'  ter  kid  me  that  Injuns  could  forgit  or  forgive 
that." 

There  was  an  exclamation  from  most  of  the  scouts. 
It  was  an  obvious  point  to  them,  one  and  all.  Their 
close  acquaintance  with  Indians  and  their  methods  told 
them,  without  shadow  of  doubt,  that  Hawk  Eye  would 
neither  forgive  nor  forget  the  injury  he  had  suffered,  but 
would  strive  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  to  retaliate. 

"They  was  jest  laughin'  in  their  sleeves,"  proceeded 
Jacob.  "  Seems  that  they  was  hopin'  we  would  camp 
somewhars  near  at  hand,  'cos  Hawk  Eye  and  his  braves 
had  been  pretty  busy.  Back  away  over  the  top  of  the 
mountain  thar  was  a  hollow  which  was  big  enough  ter 
shelter  a  hull  nation  of  Injuns,  and,  ef  only  we  could 
ha'  seen  the  critters,  it  war  thar  that  Hawk  Eye  and 
his  braves  was  on  the  night  we  climbed  ter  the  top  of 
our  hill.  Thar  was  a  mighty  palaver,  it  seems,  and 
when  we  woke  in  the  mornin',  and  the  light  allowed 
us  to  look  out,  thar  was  the  result  of  all  their  talkin'. 
Thar  was  three  hundred  red  varmint  skirmishin'  about 
round  the  hill,  and  Hawk  Eye  and  his  men  scrambling 


The   Bashful  Jacob  251 

down  their  cliff,  whilst  their  womenfolk  was  dancing  a 
kinder  war  dance  on  the  top.  It  war  a  fair  surprise. 
It  jest  took  our  breath  away." 

"Gee!  That  war  serious,"  interjected  Steve.  "Hawk 
Eye  had  patched  up  his  quarrels  with  the  other  tribes, 
I  suppose,  and  had  persuaded  them  to  come  in  to  wipe 
the  hull  party  of  whites  out.  Wall,  seein'  as  you  and 
Bill  aer  here,  yer  wasn't  wiped  out.  Yer  managed  to 
slip  between  the  fingers  of  the  critters.  But  it  war  a 
tight  fix.  Injuns  aer  that  cunnin',  and  they  never  want 
sleep  when  thar's  a  scalp  to  be  taken.  Yer  was  flum- 
moxed, Jacob." 

"  We  war.  We  got  extry  silent  eatin'  breakfast,  and 
jest  waited  ter  see  what  they  would  be  doin'.  But 
we  wasn't  going  ter  be  taken  easy.  Old  man  Staples 
war  a  fine  fellow,  though  I  say  it,  and  he  soon  fixed  us 
up  with  boulders  and  tree  stumps,  so  that  we  had  a 
stockade  all  round  us.  Then  we  set  to  work  to  hunt 
fer  likely  places  where  a  man  could  climb,  and  filled  'em 
with  the  biggest  boulders  we  could  find. 

"'That  ain't  enough,'  said  Staples,  when  we'd  done. 
'  An  Injun  could  crawl  over  them,  and  most  likely  he'd 
have  his  knife  into  one  of  our  boys  before  he  knew  it. 
We'll  lay  a  trap  for  them.'" 

"A  trap!     A  kind  of  ambush?"  asked  Seth. 

"  Ef  yer  likes  ter  call  it  that,  yes.  Reckon  Staples 
had  got  the  idea  from  young  Joe,  and  thought  he'd  give 
Hawk  Eye  and  his  critters  a  second  turn  of  powder 
ef  they  was  fools  enough  ter  come  and  take  it.  So  he 
sets  us  ter  work  jest  as  dusk  war  fallin',  and  right  behind 
each  one  of  the  barriers  we'd  formed  on  the  paths  up 
the  side  of  our  hill  we  dug  a  hole  with  our  knives,  or 


252  Indian  and  Scout 

formed  it  with  rocks.  Then  we  put  in  a  goodish  charge 
of  powder — perhaps  four  handfuls  in  each  hole — for 
Romney's  men  had  brought  along  a  spare  keg.  Thar 
was  canes  growing  on  that  hill  of  ours,  and  it  war  Bill's 
idea  about  the  train.  We  let  one  of  the  canes  down 
into  the  centre  of  the  hole  with  its  charge  of  powder, 
and  filled  in  rocks  all  round,  stamping  them  down. 
Then  it  warn't  difficult  to  fill  the  centre  of  the  canes 
with  powder,  and  take  a  train  from  thar,  under  cover 
of  leaves,  to  where  it  was  wanted.  Last  of  all,  we  fixed 
a  shooter  at  each  place,  tied  firm  ter  pegs  driven  into  the 
ground,  and  rigged  twine  across  whar  the  critters  was 
likely  to  come,  fixin'  the  ends  to  the  triggers  of  the 
shooters.  It  war  a  proper  idea. 

"Gee!  It  war,"  admitted  Steve,  his  praise  unstinted. 
"  I'm  jest  burnin'  to  hear  what  happened.  That  old  man 
Staples  were  shrewd." 

"  He  war,"  admitted  Jacob  warmly,  a  fact  to  be  com- 
mented on,  considering  the  fact  that  the  two  had  had 
a  bitter  quarrel.  "  That  dodge  of  his  saved  us  a  heap 
of  worrying  'cos,  though  we  set  guards,  in  course,  they 
hadn't  need  to  be  extry  careful,  for  them  mines  we'd  laid 
was  pretty  sure  to  keep  out  the  Injuns." 

"  They  attacked  that  night?"  asked  Tom. 

"  Wrong!  They  set  to  and  had  another  palaver.  Them 
critters  always  makes  me  think  of  the  time  I  war  a  boy, 
and  war  sent  to  the  settlement  for  some  eddication.  In 
course  I  was  often  rowin'  with  other  boys,  same  as  most 
lads  do.  Wall,  ef  my  memory  ain't  serving  me  a  bad 
trick,  we  didn't  so  often  get  to  with  our  fists  right  away 
at  the  commencement  of  the  ruction.  Thar  was  giner- 
ally  a  deal  of  jawin'.  c  Touch-me-agin-and-I'll-knock- 


The  Bashful  Jacob  253 

yer-down'  sort  of  thing.  Then,  when  our  blood  was 
hot  enough,  we'd  set  to  at  one  another,  and,  gee!  warn't 
them  scuffles  warm!" 

Jacob  sat  back  at  the  recollection,  opened  an  enor- 
mous mouth,  and  laughed — a  laugh  which  was  a  bellow, 
and  which  exposed  a  set  of  big  strong  teeth,  blackened 
by  much  smoking.  A  kick  from  Bill  brought  him  to  his 
senses. 

"  We  ain't  talkin'  of  schools,"  he  reminded  Jacob.  "  Git 
in  at  the  business.  Them  critters  had  a  palaver.  Gee! 
Ef  you  ain't  slow  enough  fer  a  funeral.  It's  enough  ter 
make  the  boys  swear." 

There  was  indignation  on  Jacob's  face  for  the  moment. 
Then  his  mouth  broadened  out  into  another  smile. 
"Yer  do  git  impatient,"  he  said  in  his  sleepy  way; 
"but  I  ain't  fer  tantalizing  anyone.  Them  critters  had 
another  palaver.  Reckon  they  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace 
between  themselves,  arranged  what  was  to  be  done  with 
the  scalps  they  war  going  to  take,  and  then  dug  up  the 
hatchet.  They  was  round  us  as  thick  as  bees  on  the 
following  morning,  and  we  could  see  them  climbing 
down  from  Hawk  Eye's  camp  on  the  cliff  ledge.  Then, 
since  it's  dead  clean  up  agin  Injun  nature  to  begin  an 
attack  of  that  sort  without  a  bit  of  talking,  they  sent 
Hawk  Eye  and  three  other  chiefs  to  parley  with  us. 

"  *  You  kin  clear  out,  safe  and  sound,  and  without  us 
touchin'  a  haar  of  yer  heads,'  he  says,  '  so  long  as  yer 
leave  the  one  as  fired  that  train  down  at  the  shanty.  We 
don't  want  no  struggling,  so  you'll  hand  over  all  guns 
and  knives  too."' 

There  was  a  giggle  from  the  circle  of  scouts,  and 
a  derisive  laugh  from  Seth. 


254  Indian  and  Scout 

"My!"  he  cried  gaily,  "them  varmint  do  take  the 
white  man  fer  a  fool!  Yer  agreed  to  them  terms,  in 
course?" 

"  We  warn't  wantin'  to  have  our  scalps  raised  jest 
then,"  came  Jacob's  slow  and  satirical  reply.  "  An  Injun 
aer  that  ontrustworthy  that  it  wouldn't  ha'  done  to  take 
Hawk  Eye's  word  at  all.  'Sides,  there  war  Mrs.  Rivers. 
Ef  we  left  the  camp  and  returned  to  our  ranches  with- 
out the  boy,  and  without  the  gal  as  Hawk  Eye  had 
stolen,  thar  was  the  mother  to  face;  and,  I  give  you 
my  word,  thar  warn't  one  of  us  in  that  crowd  as 
wouldn't  have  been  dead  ashamed  ter  do  so.  In  course 
we  refused.  Old  man  Staples,  as  knew  the  Injuns  like 
a  book,  answered  Hawk  Eye  with  the  same  sorter 
blarney. 

"'You  git  right  back  to  yer  camp,'  he  says,  'and 
bring  along  the  kid.  Then,  ef  she  ain't  been  harmed, 
and  ef  all  them  braves  of  yours  down  below  has  gone 
off  quietly  to  their  wigwams,  we'll  git  back  to  our  homes 
without  hurtin'  yer;  but,  ef  thar's  been  damage  done, 
and  ef  yer  ain't  slippy  about  quittin',  we'll  make  yer  feel 
sorry  all  your  lives  that  yer  was  ever  born.' 

"  That  war  Staples's  style  of  talkin',  and  it  fair  tickled 
the  Injuns.  It  war  the  sort  of  thing  they'd  have  said 
theirselves,  and  so  they  could  relish  it.  But  it  didn't 
bring  them  no  nearer  to  our  scalps,  and,  sence  sittin'  down 
below  wouldn't  help  neither,  they  made  up  their  minds 
to  have  a  turn  at  the  job  that  very  night.  Wall,  reckon 
forty  of  the  critters  came  creepin'  up  somewhares  about 
half-past  two  in  the  early  mornin',  and  you  kin  guess 
what  happened.  One  of  the  parties  found  our  barrier 
before  the  others  reached  the  boulders  blocking  the  path 


The  Bashful  Jacob  255 

they  was  following.  Them  strings  worked  as  ef  they 
was  part  of  a  machine,  and,  I  tell  yer,  the  sparks  flew. 
The  explosion  didn't  give  Hawk  Eye  and  his  chiefs  any 
chance  of  larnin'  what  had  happened,  'cos  the  critters 
that  came  up  agin  the  mine  wasn't  left  to  be  axed  any 
questions. 

"  In  course  it  made  'em  even  more  careful,  and  when 
another  of  the  mines  had  exploded,  and  cleared  out  a 
second  party,  the  braves  was  called  back,  and  them  chiefs 
got  to  at  another  palaver.  And  next  mornin'  the  terms 
they  offered  us  was  a  little  easier.  We  could  go,  so  long 
as  we  left  only  our  shooters  and  knives.  They'd  dropped 
wantin'  the  boy,  yer  see;  fer  in  course  it  war  Joe  who 
had  fired  the  train  down  at  his  father's  shanty.  But 
Staples  let  'em  see  that  we  was  even  more  determined 
than  before.  '  You  kin  get  back  to  yer  friends,'  he  says, 
'and  tell  'em  this:  We  want  the  gal  you  stole,  and  we 
want  a  brave  and  a  squaw  from  each  tribe.  We'll  take 
good  care  of  them;  but  they'll  be  like  hostages.  Ye'll 
have  'em  back,  safe  and  sound,  once  we've  reached  the 
ranches.' 

"  That  fairly  roused  the  Injuns,  mates,  and  within  an 
hour  of  Hawk  Eye  leaving  us  after  the  palaver  the 
best  part  of  three  hundred  of  the  critters  galloped  up 
to  the  hill,  and  started  climbing  it  as  fast  as  they  was 
able.  And  this  time  the  daylight  helped  them,  fer  they 
knew  we'd  laid  mines,  and  was  on  the  lookout  for  the 
strings.  Still,  one  or  two  of  'em  was  careless,  and  got 
blowed  sky  high.  The  rest  came  on  with  a  rush,  and 
for  a  time  it  war  warmish.  We  was  bunched  together 
behind  our  barricades,  and,  as  1  said  right  away  at  the 
beginnin'  of  the  yarn,  we  give  them  proper  pepper.  But 


256  Indian  and  Scout 

they  was  too  many,  and  it  soon  come  to  hand-to-hand 
fightin'.  Wall,  we  beat  the  critters,  and,  jest  to  finish 
the  yarn  without  more  talkin',  we  got  that  kid,  and  took 
her  safe  back  to  the  mother.  Blow'd  if  I  ain't  sleepy. 
Time  we  was  turned  in.  Good  night,  mates,  I'm 
goin'." 

The  ponderous  Jacob  showed  astonishing  celerity.  It 
was  the  first  time  that  any  had  seen  him  rise  so  quickly 
under  similar  circumstances,  though,  to  be  sure,  the  burly 
fellow  could  move  quickly  enough  when  needed,  as  he 
had  already  proved  that  day. 

"Hold  hard,  sonny!"  cried  Tom,  detaining  him  with 
a.  firm  hand.  "That's  too  short  an  ending.  Yer  was 
surrounded.  That's  whar  we  got  to.  Let's  have  the 
rest  quietly,  and  not  thrown  in  all  in  a  hurry." 

"  I  ain't  goin1  ter  say  no  more.  I'm  off  ter  my 
blanket,"  came  the  stolid  answer. 

"And  that's  jest  whar  I  come  in,"  cried  Bill  suddenly. 
"Yer  remember  Jacob  lad  was  fer  moving  earlier  on. 
That's  when  I  began  to  help  him.  This  time  he's  clean 
shut  up,  so  I'll  have  to  take  the  yarn  to  the  very  end. 
Jacob  thar  says  it  war  hand-to-hand  fightin'.  In  course, 
when  the  business  was  over,  and  we  had  time  to  take  a 
look  round,  there  was  a  goodish  few  of  us  as  had  been 
wounded.  Two  of  our  chaps  was  killed,  while  I  guess 
we'd  laid  out  thirty  of  the  Injuns.  But  that  ain't  all. 
It  war  gettin'  dusk  when  them  critters  was  driven  off, 
and  you  kin  guess  as  it  took  a  while  to  decide  how 
many  of  our  mates  had  been  hurt,  and  to  tend  to  those 
that  needed  it.  It  warn't  fer  half  an  hour,  perhaps,  that 
old  man  Staples  sings  out  fer  Jacob. 

"'  Whar  is  the  man!'  he  asks,  kind  of  anxious,  fer  he 


The  Bashful  Jacob  257 

seemed  to  have  taken  a  sudden  and  violent  fancy  to 
him.  'Whar  is  he?' 

"And  when  we  come  to  search  high  and  low  there 
wasn't  a  sign  of  the  critter.  He  war  clean  gone." 

"  Gone!"  exclaimed  one  of  the  men.  "  Whar?  What 
fer?" 

"  Ha!  That's  what  I'm  a-comin'  to,"  grinned  Bill.  "  It 
aer  that  part  of  the  yarn  as  wild  bosses  couldn't  drag 
from  Jacob.  But  he  has  got  to  hear  it.  Jest  sit  right 
down  on  him,  Tom,  and  hold  him.  Gee!  Ef  his  bash- 
fulness  don't  beat  me  altogether." 


(0179)  17 


CHAPTER   XVII 

Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue 

"You  kin  fire  away  as  soon  as  yer  like.  We've  got 
a  hold  of  him,  and  ef  he  kicks  we'll  show  who's 
strongest." 

Tom  shouted  the  words,  and  at  the  same  time  sat 
himself  down  heavily  beside  Jacob,  while  Seth  placed 
himself  on  the  other  side.  The  manoeuvre,  coupled  with 
the  frowns  and  grimaces  of  the  stolid  hunter,  caused  a 
roar  of  laughter  from  those  assembled  round  the  fire. 
Black  Bill  grinned,  a  grin  of  huge  enjoyment,  while 
Steve  increased  the  hilarity  of  the  proceedings  by 
beckoning  to  Jack. 

"Jest  draw  yer  shooter"  he  said  with  a  dry  smile. 
"  He  knows  as  yer  ain't  over  practised,  and  ef  he  sees 
you  fingerin'  the  trigger  pretty  close  to  his  head  he'll 
lay  quiet,  same  as  he's  ordered.  Now,  the  party's 
ready;  yer  kin  git  in  at  it,  mate." 

Thus  bidden,  Bill  at  once  proceeded  with  his  yarn. 

"  Old  Jacob  war  clean  gone,"  he  said,  "and  no  amount 
of  hunting  would  find  him.  So  we  guessed  that  some  of 
them  Injun  varmint  had  collared  him  and  dragged  him 
off  in  the  scrimmage.  '  All  the  same,  mates,'  said  old 
man  Staples, '  we'll  be  extry  careful  when  we're  shootin' 
to-night.  Ef  Jacob  aer  been  hauled  away  he  may  be 
able  to  give  'em  the  slip  before  they  kin  kill  him.' 

258 


Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue        259 

"  It  war  lucky  he  gave  that  warning.  Somewhares 
about  midnight  Jacob  thar  crawls  back  into  the  camp, 
and  precious  nigh  gets  a  bullet  in  him.  In  course  the 
hull  crowd  of  us  was  anxious  to  know  why  he'd  gone, 
and  how  he  come  to  be  able  to  git  back.  But  ye've 
seen  fer  yerselves  what  a  critter  he  is  fer  keepin'  his 
mouth  shut  when  he's  axed  questions,  and  blessed  ef 
he'd  say  a  word  about  his  doin's.  '  I  want  a  man,'  he 
says,  squatting  down  beside  the  fire,  '  a  man  as  ain't  too 
fond  of  this  life.  Who'll  come?'  Wall,  I  happened  to 
be  right  next  to  him,"  explained  Bill,  looking  round  at 
the  circle  of  friends  apologetically,  as  if  he  were  men- 
tioning something  he  had  need  to  be  ashamed  of.  "  In 
course  I  said  I  war  his  man.  I  warn't  over  tired  of  life, 
and  not  now,  neither,  but  I  kinder  wanted  to  see  what 
he  was  up  to.  It  war  sheer  curiosity." 

There  was  a  murmur  from  the  scouts,  and  a  general 
shaking  of  heads.  All  knew  very  well  that  the  words 
were  prompted  by  Bill's  modesty. 

"You  was  like  the  rest,"  said  Tom  deliberately,  in  a 
manner  there  was  no  correcting.  "  Every  one  of  them 
boys  was  game  to  go.  Yer  knew  the  business  was 
likely  ter  be  warmish,  fer  Jacob  had  as  good  as  said 
so.  It  warn't  curiosity — it  war  duty.  Git  on." 

Bill  would  have  gladly  remonstrated  with  him.  The 
words  were  actually  on  his  lips.  Then  he  changed  his 
mind.  It  was  obvious  to  him  that  his  comrades  had 
already  formed  their  own  conclusions. 

"  Wall,  curiosity  or  not,  I  war  next  him,  and  the  fust 
ter  get  a  chance  of  speaking.  It  aer  curious;  though 
there  war  some  fifty  boys  in  the  crowd,  and  all  had 
heard  Jacob  sing  out  fer  a  man  who  wasn't  too  fond  of 


260  Indian  and  Scout 

his  life,  every  man  jack  of  the  crowd  found  he  war  in 
that  position.  They  shouted  to  be  his  man.  They  was 
too  late,  as  I've  told  yer;  fer,  sense  I  war  the  first  ter 
offer,  in  course  I  was  the  one  ter  go. 

" ( We'll  take  knives  and  shooters,  and  enough  grub  ter 
last  us  a  couple  of  days/  says  Jacob,  when  the  shouting 
was  done  with;  'and  then  we'll  wait  for  them  critters 
ter  come  along.  They'll  be  here  agin  by  two  in  the 
mornin',  and  when  we've  let  'em  see  that  we're  lively, 
and  askin'  for  a  ruction,  why,  they'll  clear  back  ter  their 
wigwams.  That'll  be  our  time,  Bill.  We'll  move  away 
with  them.  You,  mates,  can  look  to  see  us  back  most 
at  any  time.  All  depends  on  sarcumstances.' 

"That  was  all  we  could  get  outer  him  that  night," 
went  on  Bill.  "  He  jest  sat  silent,  eatin'  his  supper, 
and  thinking.  Then  he  turns  into  his  blanket  and 
sleeps.  But  at  two  in  the  mornin'  he  war  up  and  lively 
like  the  rest,  and  seems  he  was  right  about  the  Injuns. 
They  came  creeping  like  snakes  up  the  hill,  and  it 
warn't  till  one  of  our  mines  went  off,  and  gave  the 
alarm,  that  we  guessed  that  they  were  near.  Then  we 
took  to  shooting,  and  precious  soon  sent  them  critters 
down  to  the  plain  agin. 

"'Now's  our  time,'  says  Jacob.  *Aer  yer  ready, 
Bill?' 

" '  You  bet,'  I  says.     '  What  thin?' 

" '  Got  yer  grub  and  thet  shooter?' 

"  I  jest  nodded. 

" '  Then  slip  these  over  yer  boots,  or,  better  still,  take 
'em  off  and  put  on  these  moccasins,'  says  Jacob,  handin' 
over  a  pair  he'd  likely  enough  taken  from  one  of  the 
Injuns  we'd  wiped  out  '  Now.  Ready?' 


Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue       261 

"Wall,  thar  ain't  over  much  talkin'  from  Jacob  thar, 
as  ye've  seen  fer  yerselves,"  went  on  Bill.  "  But  blessed 
ef  I  didn't  feel  inclined  ter  shake  him  before  very  long. 
Did  he  talk  to  our  mates  afore  we  left  the  hill?  Not 
much!  Did  he  open  that  'ere  huge  mouth  of  his  once 
we  was  off?  Nary  a  word  could  I  git  from  him,  till 
I  began  ter  get  savage.  'Look  ye  here,  Jacob  lad,'  I 
says;  'you  and  I  are  pards  on  this  here  excursion,  and 
seems  to  me  as  things  ain't  equal.  I'm  your  man,  what- 
ever happens,  but  thar's  maybe  sarcumstances  as  I 
should  understand.  Yer  might  get  wiped  out,  and 
then  whar  should  I  be?' 

"  I  could  kinder  hear  the  critter  grinnin'  to  hisself  in 
the  darkness,  some  hundred  yards  from  our  camp,"  said 
Bill,  looking  round  at  his  audience;  "and,  I  tell  yer,  I 
felt  jest  like  kickin'  him.  But  Jacob  aer  a  trifle  too  big 
fer  me.  'Sides,  he  owned  up  as  I  war  in  the  right. 

"Til  tell  yer,  curious!'  he  said,  grinnin'  still.  'We're 
off  to  Hawk  Eye's  camp,  to  that  ledge  whar  his  wig- 
wams aer  pitched,  and  in  course  yer  don't  want  to  ask 
fer  what  we're  goin'.  Thar's  that  kid  ter  be  rescued. 
I  axed  fer  a  man  as  was  kinder  done  with  his  life,  'cos 
I  didn't  see  much  chance  of  gettin'  outer  the  business. 
Still,  I've  been  thar,  and  got  back.  Two  may  do  the 
same.' 

"'You?'  I  asked,  under  my  breath,  fer  yer  must  re- 
member we  had  to  be  specially  quiet.  'You've  been 
up  thar  on  the  ledge?' 

"  Wall,  the  critter  allowed  as  he  had.  He'd  followed 
them  Injuns  out  of  our  stockade  after  their  first  attack, 
had  kinder  mixed  hisself  up  with  them,  and  had  coolly 
climbed  with  the  varmint  up  to  the  ledge.  Then  he'd 


262  Indian  and  Scout 

laid  doggo  in  some  hole  he'd  come  across,  had  seen  all 
there  was  ter  be  seen,  and  had  heard  'em  plotting  the 
attack  which  had  jest  taken  place. 

"'What  we're  up  to  now,'  he  says,  'is  to  climb  up 
thar  agin,  and  wait  fer  a  second  business  same  as 
to-night.  That'll  be  our  time  to  snatch  the  kid  and 
come  away.  In  course  ye'll  be  wonderin'  why  I  didn't 
manage  that  whilst  I  war  thar.  But  thar's  a  critter 
on  guard  at  the  top  of  the  track,  and  a  second  down 
below.  I  knew  I  shouldn't  have  no  chance  ter  get  away 
with  the  kid  with  them  thar;  fer  I  was  bound  ter  raise 
a  ruction  in  their  camp  when  I  went  fer  the  kid,  and 
by  the  time  I  got  ter  the  track  those  two  Injun  varmint 
would  have  others  ter  help  'em.  So  I  says  to  myself 
that  I  would  git  back  to  our  camp,  call  fer  a  man  as 
was  a  man,  and  then  return  to  the  ledge.  Even  with 
two  the  job'll  be  a  skeary  one.  It  ain't  likely  to  be  all 
milk  and  cream.'" 

Bill  looked  round  his  listening  circle  reflectively  for 
a  few  moments.  No  doubt  he  was  passing  in  review 
those  incidents  which  had  occurred  now  some  years  ago, 
and,  if  the  truth  were  only  known,  was  recalling  his  own 
impressions,  his  own  feelings  as  the  risk  of  the  under- 
taking became  plainly  apparent  to  him.  His  audience 
regarded  him  closely  with  interest,  and  perhaps  a  little 
impatience.  Then  Tom  broke  the  silence,  and  gave 
him  encouragement. 

"Gee!  It  war  a  teaser,"  he  said.  "Thar's  some  men 
as  I've  met  who  would  ha'  backed  out.  Jacob  thar  was 
kinder  asking  yer  to  a  funeral." 

Bill  laughed.  "  It  war  ticklish,"  he  admitted.  "  As 
ter  the  funeral  a  man  don't  think  of  them  'ere  things 


Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue       263 

when  he's  warmed  up.  I  was  dead  keen  on  gettin'  the 
kid.  There  warn't  no  more  ter  be  said,  so  Jacob  led  the 
way  fer  the  cliff.  In  course  there  was  Injuns  about,  but 
it  was  dark,  as  I've  said,  and,  'sides,  we'd  come  away 
with  our  blankets,  the  same  sort  of  thing  as  used  by  the 
Injuns.  With  them  over  our  heads,  and  the  moccasins 
on  our  feet,  there  wasn't  much  chance  of  being  spotted. 
In  addition,  it  began  ter  rain,  and  when  it  rains  even  an 
Injun  critter  likes  ter  have  a  covering.  So  guess  they 
made  tracks  fer  their  wigwams,  and  tried  ter  sleep  off 
the  licking  we  had  given  them.  Jacob  and  me  found 
the  cliff  path,  and  scrambled  up  it.  It  war  steep,  steeper 
than  a  wall  in  parts,  whar  they  had  fixed  poles  and 
cross  pieces  ter  help  them,  sorter  ladders,  which  leaned 
right  out,  making  yer  climb  like  a  fly.  But  we  didn't 
mind  the  steepness  so  long  as  the  enemy  wasn't  any- 
whar's  about.  And  after  a  bit  we  reached  the  top. 
Even  thar  thar  wasn't  a  critter,  fer  I  guess  the  rain 
had  driven  him  in. 

" « Them's  the  wigwams,'  says  Jacob,  pointin'  to  some- 
thin'  that  might  have  been  one,  or  may  have  been  a 
piece  of  rock.  Anyway,  I  took  his  word  for  it.  '  We're 
right  on  the  edge  of  the  ledge,'  he  whispers,  'and  the 
hole  I  located  is  dead  straight  back,  as  dead  straight 
as  yer  kin  go.  Jest  remember  that,  ef  you  have  ter 
make  a  run  for  it.  Now  let's  get  under  cover.' 

"  It  was  an  old  bear  hole  he'd  found,"  explained  Bill, 
"a  deep  cleft  in  the  rocks,  twistin'  and  turnin'  as  it 
went,  and  runnin'  into  the  cliff  for  perhaps  fifty  feet. 
Leastwise  that's  what  I  guessed  by  creepin'  round  and 
feelin'  with  my  fingers.  Jacob  jest  went  in  as  far  as 
he  was  able,  and  then  rolled  himself  in  his  blanket. 


264  Indian  and  Scout 

" '  Reckon  a  man  don't  want  to  set  a  watch,'  he  said. 
'Thar's  never  an  Injun  as  will  dare  to  come  in  here. 
Most  likely  they  think  it's  haunted  by  a  spirit,  and,  ef 
not,  then  thar'll  be  a  bear,  though  that  ain't  likely. 
Take  a  sleep,  Bill,  and  ter-morrer  we'll  be  fresh  and 
lively.' 

"  It  war  a  queer  place  ter  rest  in,  and  I  don't  mind 
admitting  ter  you  mates  here  as  I  was  skeared.  I 
couldn't  make  up  my  mind  ter  sleep  fer  quite  a  bit, 
but  kept  creeping  to  the  opening  ter  look  out.  And 
most  times  thar  was  nothing  to  see.  Not  a  star  even, 
not  a  sight  of  the  critters  as  would  have  torn  us  bit 
by  bit  ter  pieces  ef  they  only  could  ha'  known  that 
we  was  thar.  But  near  to  morning  the  clouds  were 
swept  aside,  and  then  one  could  see  the  outline  of  the 
wigwams,  not  forty  feet  from  us,  with  the  dead  ashes  of 
the  fires  they  had  been  cookin'  at  the  evening  before 
jest  in  front  of  their  skin  shanties.  While  not  so  far 
away,  seeming  quite  close  in  that  'ere  sorter  light,  was 
our  camp,  on  top  of  the  hill,  whar  our  pals  lay.  Precious 
little  use  they  could  ha'  been  ter  us  ef  there  had  been  a 
call.  It  war  skeary  work!" 

Bill  passed  his  hand  across  his  forehead,  as  if  even  the 
recollection  of  his  daring  made  him  hot,  while  Steve  and 
his  comrades  drew  in  a  succession  of  deep  breaths. 

"  It  war  the  riskiest  thing  as  ever  I  heard  of,"  said 
the  former  slowly  and  seriously.  "  I  'low  now  that  any 
man  called  upon  fer  sich  a  job  had  a  right  ter  back  out. 
It  were  downright  the  darndest  bit  of  foolery  as  ever  I 
come  across.  Yer  was  kinder  puttin'  yer  heads  into 
the  open  mouth  of  a  hungry  lion,  and  I'm  fair  surprised 
to  see  yer  here.  It  don't  seem  possible  that  them 


Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue       265 

critters  could  ha'  missed  yer,  and  yet — wall,  I've  knowed 
pretty  nigh  as  wonderful  cases,"  he  admitted  after  a 
few  moments'  thought.  "Them  critters  is  queer  folk. 
They're  superstitious,  ef  that's  the  right  word  fer  it,  and 
I've  known  'em  back  away  from  bear  holes,  not  because 
they  was  afeard  of  the  beast,  but  because  they  thought 
they  would  be  meddlin'  with  some  spirit.  Gee!  I  'low 
as  this  here  fix  war  a  teaser." 

"  It  war,"  came  from  many  quarters. 

"  But  this  here  big  lump  of  a  Jacob  didn't  seem  to 
think  nothink  of  it,"  proceeded  Bill,  pointing  a  condemn- 
ing finger  at  the  huge  scout,  whereat  the  burly  fellow 
flushed  a  dusky  red  and  fidgeted  as  if  he  had  cause  to 
feel  ashamed.  "  I  war  jest  jumpin'  with  nerves  when 
the  morning  came,  and  them  braves  began  ter  sneak  out 
from  their  wigwams.  It  war  warm  and  fine,  and  there 
they  stood,  jest  without  a  move,  staring  down  at  our 
camp  on  the  hill,  while  their  women  bustled  ter  find  dry 
wood,  ter  light  the  fires,  and  ter  cook  the  grub  for  their 
masters. 

" '  It  makes  yer  hungry,'  says  Jacob  thar.  *  Jest  fetch 
out  that  'ere  dried  meat  of  ours,  and  we'll  have  a  square 
meal.  Them  critters  ain't  fer  talkin'  till  they  have  had 
their  fill.' 

"  We  sat  in  that  'ere  cave  all  day  long,  outer  sight  of 
any  of  the  braves,  staring  at  them  through  a  chink  that 
opened  on  their  camp.  And  it  gave  me  a  better  idea, 
so  to  speak,  of  their  ways  of  livin'  and  eatin'  and  speak- 
in'  than  ever  I  had  had  before,  or  sence,  fer  the  matter 
of  that.  And  we  warn't  long  in  seeing  that  they  was 
fairly  mad  with  our  pals.  They  sat  thar  on  the  ledge, 
fifty  of  the  chiefs  of  the  various  tribes,  chewin'  the  ends 


266  Indian  and  Scout 

of  their  pipes,  and  fairly  glarin'  sparks  at  our  camp. 
And  one  by  one  the  chiefs  got  up  on  their  hind  legs 
and  palavered.  One  wanted  ter  get  ter  work  right  away, 
another  advised  an  attack  in  force  that  night,  a  sudden 
retreat  as  ef  they  was  scared,  and  then  a  return  to  the 
business.  Hawk  Eye  war  cautious.  Yer  see,  he'd  been 
having  a  fair  gruelling,  and  he  warn't  so  keen  ter  be 
hit  harder.  'The  white  man  is  strong/  he  says,  when 
he  gets  to  his  feet,  jest  as  ef  we  hadn't  proved  that  al- 
ready, 'but  he  can  be  beaten  by  craft  together  with 
force.  And  when  he  are  beaten,  there  are  his  farms, 
his  wives,  and  his  children,  all  fer  our  taking.' 

"  Yer  see,"  commented  Bill,  "  Hawk  Eye  war  an 
artful  critter.  He  could  see  as  he  had  let  the  other 
tribes  into  a  hot  business,  and  so  he  told  'em  first  of 
all  of  the  things  they  would  gain,  not  forgetting  the 
scalps.  And  in  course,  jest  like  all  Injuns,  the  very 
talk  of  scalps  made  'em  forget  most  everything  else. 
Them  critters  has  sich  hate  fer  white  men  that  the 
mention  of  one  aer  like  a  red  rag  to  'em.  Anyway, 
they  said  they  were  ready  to  follow  him,  and  he  warn't 
long  in  coming  out  with  his  plan. 

"'We  are  many/  he  says,  'and  they  are  few.  Yet 
they  are  so  strongly  posted  that  my  brothers  are  likely 
to  suffer  heavily  if  we  attack  again.  Let  us  lure  them 
into  the  open.  Consider;  what  are  they  here  for?  To 
rescue  an  infant  whom  we  have  taken,  and  whom  the 
squaw,  who  is  my  wife,  will  cling  to  as  if  it  were  her 
own.  They  sit  yonder  on  the  hill  waiting,  knowing  that 
the  child  is  here.  Let  us  move  from  this  post.  Let  us 
leave  a  sufficient  guard  to  hold  the  path  to  this  ledge, 
and  then,  as  to-morrow  morning  breaks,  we  will  muster 


Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue       267 

on  the  plain,  with  men  dressed  to  appear  as  squaws, 
or  boys  will  serve  that  purpose,  with  wigwam  poles 
slung,  and  appearing  in  every  way  as  if  we  were  leaving 
this  spot  for  another.  Consider  now,  my  brothers,  what 
will  happen.  It  is  the  child  these  white  men  seek.  They 
will  follow  us,  thinking  the  infant  is  with  us.  We  will 
appear  to  ride  away,  as  if  in  fear.  But  once  they  are  far 
enough  from  the  hill  yonder  we  will  turn,  and  then ' 

"  I  give  yer  my  word,"  said  Bill  impressively,  "  it  fairly 
made  a  man's  blood  curdle  to  hear  the  grunts  them 
critters  give  and  the  way  their  eyes  flashed.  In  course 
they  was  fer  Hawk  Eye's  scheme  right  away,  and  for 
the  next  few  hours  they  sat  talkin'  it  over,  sharpenin' 
their  tomahawks,  or  simply  looking  down  at  our  camp, 
doin'  nothing,  not  movin'  so  much  as  an  eyelid,  same 
as  only  Injuns  kin  do. 

" '  It  aer  a  case  of  ter-night  or  never/  says  Jacob, 
as  evening  came  along.  4  That  wigwam  thar,'  and  he 
pointed  to  the  nearest,  'aer  Hawk  Eye's,  and  though 
we  ain't  never  seen  the  kid,  yet  it  stands  ter  reason  she's 
thar.  We  aer  got  to  snatch  it  once  it's  really  dark,  and 
then  one  of  us  has  got  ter  get  through.  Bill,  ye'll  take 
the  kid,  I'll  follow  close  with  my  shooter.  We  may  have 
the  luck  ter  get  clear  of  the  ledge  without  being  dis- 
covered and  afore  they've  found  that  the  kid's  gone.  Ef 
we  do,  then  all  depends  on  her.  She  may  howl.  That 
would  be  enough  ter  finish  us.' 

"  Believe  it  or  not,  mates,  jest  before  it  got  too  dark 
ter  see,  when  the  light  from  the  fires  was  beginning  to 
get  helpful,  a  squaw  come  out  of  the  wigwam  that  was 
Hawk  Eye's,  carryin'  a  kid.  It  war  the  white  gal.  We 
was  sure  then  that  she  was  thar.  Then  the  squaw  walks 


268  Indian  and  Scout 

up  and  down  a  bit,  and  at  last  goes  back  to  the  wigwam. 
But  she  didn't  stay  in  long.  In  five  minutes  she  war 
outside,  tending  the  fire  burning  on  the  edge  of  the 
ledge. 

"'It  aer  the  time,'  says  Jacob.  'Jest  sit  right  here 
and  wait.  Ef  I'm  seen,  and  thar  ain't  a  chance  fer  me 
to  get  away,  I'll  chuck  the  kid  ter  you ;  yer  can  make  a 
run  fer  it.' 

"  He  war  gone  afore  I  knew  it,  and  I  seed  him  creep- 
ing along  beside  the  rock.  Reckon  he  reached  the  wig- 
wam without  a  soul  being  the  wiser,  and  after  that,  jest 
when  I  was  expecting  to  hear  a  hullabaloo,  he  turns  up 
at  my  elbow. 

"'Here's  the  kid,'  he  says.  'Let's  be  gittin'.  Take 
it,  Bill.' 

"  It  warn't  the  time  fer  talkin'.  Me  and  Jacob  thar 
gets  our  blankets  over  our  heads  and  moves  out,  the 
kid  kinder  tucked  under  one  of  my  arms.  And  outside 
that  cleft  it  war  plaguey  light.  I  knew  right  off  that 
an  Injun  could  see  jest  then  as  well  almost  as  he  would 
in  broad  day,  so  it  wasn't  altogether  a  question  of 
whether  the  kid  made  a  noise  or  not.  And,  in  any  case, 
we  wasn't  long  afore  we  come  bang  up  agin  trouble. 
Thar  was  a  critter  standing  guard  at  the  top  of  the 
path  leading  down  from  the  ledge." 

A  series  of  sounds,  almost  of  groans,  came  from  the 
scouts.  Their  sympathy  was  deeply  centred  in  the 
fortunes  of  the  two  comrades  seated  with  them,  and 
in  that  of  the  comrades  who  were  helping  them  to 
rescue  a  child  and  help  a  distracted  mother. 

"  There  was  a  critter  thar,  war  there?"  growled  Tom, 
kicking  the  ground.  "  Yer  didn't  'low 


Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue       269 

"  I  ain't  never  seed  the  varmint  as  could  stop  me  ef 
I  was  minded  ter  move  on,"  declared  Bill  sturdily,  a 
flush  on  his  dark  skin.  "  I  give  that  'ere  critter  what 
for.  He  turned  as  we  come  up  ter  him,  looked  at  us 
close,  and  then  whipped  out  his  tomahawk.  Afore  he 
could  shout  I  give  him  one  with  my  fist  full  in  the 
face." 

"  Ah!"  There  came  an  exclamation  of  relief  from  his 
mates. 

"  He  didn't  stop  fallin',  I  reckon,  till  he  got  to  the 
bottom  of  the  cliff,  and  when  he  reached  ground  agin, 
guess  he  warn't  no  more  use  to  Hawk  Eye.  But  he 
jest  made  the  critters  down  below  extry  lively." 

"Thar  was  more  down  thar  then?"  asked  Steve. 

"Thar  was  a  round  dozen.  They  heard  us  comin', 
in  course,  but  couldn't  rightly  say  who  we  was  or  what 
had  happened.  Yer  see,  their  mate  might  have  come 
by  an  accident,  and  fallen  from  the  ledge  in  the  dark- 
ness. They  wouldn't  never  have  known  till  we  dropped 
amongst  'em  ef  it  hadn't  been  fer  the  kid.  She  yowled." 

Again  there  came  a  chorus  of  growls  from  the  hunters. 
They  realized  thoroughly  what  that  meant.  If  the 
rescued  child  called  out,  the  cry  would  awaken  every 
Indian  within  hearing,  while  the  chance  of  Bill  and 
Jacob  reaching  their  friends  again  was  almost  destroyed. 

"  She  yowled,"  repeated  Bill  solemnly,  "  while  some- 
one up  above  us  on  the  ledge  set  to  shoutin'.  It  war 
a  woman's  voice,  and  we  knew,  in  course,  that  it  must 
be  Hawk  Eye's  squaw.  Wall,  within  the  minute  the 
hull  lot  of  the  critters  was  dancing,  and  we  could  hear 
'em  coming  down  the  path  above. 

" '  Git  behind  me,'  says  Jacob  thar,  as  ef  he  war  boss 


270  Indian  and  Scout 

of  the  business.  '  When  we're  a  few  steps  lower,  jest 
feel  about  with  yer  feet.  Thar's  a  branch  in  the  road 
bearin'  to  the  left  and  leadin'  out  on  to  smooth  grass. 
Yer  make  along  it.  I'll  go  by  the  other,  and  give  yer 
a  start.  There  it  aer.  Move.' 

"  He  aer  a  plaguey  feller,  he's  that  short-winded," 
grumbled  Bill.  "  He  jest  pushed  me  and  the  kid  on 
ter  the  second  path  and  then  went  straight  on;  fer  we 
was  near  to  the  bottom  of  the  cliff  thar,  and  the  road 
was  nearly  level.  And  then  what  do  yer  think  he  did?" 

"  Set  to  at  them  varmint,"  suggested  Seth  fiercely. 

"  Run  back  and  broke  up  them  that  was  following," 
came  from  another. 

"  I  aer  seed  his  game.  Yer  git  on  with  it,  lad,"  said 
Steve.  "  It  war  a  brave  thing.  No,  Jacob,  lad,  you 
ain't  got  no  call  ter  shake  yer  fist,  and  look  as  ef  you'd 
like  ter  kill  me.  It  war  a  brave  thing.  Ye'd  have 
done  it  fer  nothing,  though,  ef  the  kid  had  given  tongue 
again." 

"  He  would,"  came  warmly  from  Bill.  "  Ye've  hit  it 
fust  time,  Steve.  Jacob  goes  down  the  path,  makin' 
as  much  clatter  with  his  feet  as  he  war  able,  and  every 
second  or  so  calling  out  in  a  squeaky  voice,  same  as 
ef  he  war  the  kid.  And  in  course  it  drawed  every  one 
of  the  critters  in  them  parts  on  ter  him.  I  heard  his 
shooter  going  in  less  than  a  minute.  It  war  warm 
work  while  it  lasted,  and  I  tell  yer  it  aer  luck  that  he 
come  through  alive." 

"Luck!"  shouted  Jacob,  suddenly  rousing  himself 
and  turning  upon  Bill  like  a  tiger.  Indeed  it  seemed 
as  if  he  were  eager  to  draw  the  attention  of  his  comrades 
from  himself  to  the  dark-skinned  scout  who  had  been 


C179 


RUNNING  A   RISK 


Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue       271 

yarning.  "  It  warn't  luck,"  he  shouted,  pointing  at  Bill. 
"  It  war  him— Bill,  Black  Bill,  him  as  had  the  kid.  Do 
yer  think  he  did  as  I  told  him?  He  war  always  a 
stubborn,  stiff-necked  sorter  feller.  He  didn't  run.  He 
risked  the  child  that  we'd  waited  and  watched  fer, 
slings  her  somehow  over  his  shoulder  in  his  blanket,  and 
comes  right  back  to  help  me.  It  warn't  luck  that  made 
me  get  off  from  them  critters.  It  war  Bill." 

Had  the  listeners  not  been  so  full  of  the  yarn  they 
would  have  shouted  with  laughter;  for  the  two  scouts, 
Bill  and  Jacob,  glared  at  one  another  for  some  few 
seconds  as  if  they  were  mortal  enemies.  Then  Bill 
grinned,  kicked  the  fire  vigorously,  sending  a  column  of 
sparks  flying  into  the  air,  and  lay  back  with  an  air  of 
resignation. 

"Gee,  how  he  do  talk!"  he  cried.  "Ter  hear  Jacob, 
yer  would  think  as  he  war  telling  the  yarn.  Ef  yer 
don't  mind,  mate,  I'll  get  through  with  it.  It  war  luck 
as  saved  him.  I  'low  as  I  went  back  to  help  him,  'cos 
no  partner  could  slink  off  and  leave  a  mate  ter  them 
red  varmint.  Thar  warn't  nothing  in  it  but  common 
duty,  same  as  every  man  owes  ter  his  mate.  With  Jacob 
thar  it  warn't  the  same.  He'd  no  call  ter  take  all  the 
risks  on  his  own  shoulders.  But,  howsomever,  we  was 
both  in  the  thick  of  it,  them  critters  coming  at  us  all 
the  while,  and  me  and  Jacob  hopping  from  rock  to  rock, 
keeping  our  faces  to  the  braves,  and  setting  our  shooters 
barking  at  them.  Thar  was  a  dozen  of  the  Injuns  down 
thar,  and  precious  soon  we  thinned  their  numbers.  Then 
Jacob  shouted  out  fer  me  ter  run  with  him,  and  sence  it 
warn't  no  longer  a  case  of  leaving  a  pal,  why,  in  course  I 
runned." 


272  Indian  and  Scout 

"  Yer  got  back  ter  the  camp  without  more  fighting?" 
asked  Steve. 

"  None  worth  talkin'  about,"  came  the  short  answer. 
"  Thar  was  critters  here  and  thar,  doing  their  best 
ter  cut  us  off.  But  the  darkness  helped  us,  and  what 
with  that  and  our  shooters  we  came  through  ter  the 
bottom  of  the  hill.  And  thar  was  Staples,  with  some  of 
the  boys,  ter  help  us.  My!  You  should  ha'  seen  that 
old  man  shaking  Jacob's  hands!  Them  enemies!  Gee! 
I'd  like  to  see  the  man  as  would  ha'  dared  to  mention  it. 
They  was  like  brothers." 

"  And  the  Indians?"  asked  one  of  the  hunters.  "  They 
tried  their  little  game  in  the  morning?  They  did  their 
best  to  draw  yer  out  into  the  plains?" 

"  Not  they,"  came  quickly  from  Bill.  "  They  was 
flummoxed  by  the  loss  of  the  kid.  It  seemed  to  have 
turned  their  luck.  They  waited,  I  reckon,  fer  the  next 
day." 

"And  then?" 

"  We  wasn't  thar  ter  help  'em,"  grinned  Bill.  "  Old 
man  Staples  was  worth  a  better  trick.  We  kept  our 
fires  going  precious  late  that  night,  and  when  everything 
in  and  about  the  Injun  camp  war  quiet,  we  slipped  down 
the  hill  and  out  on  ter  the  plain.  It  warn't  till  two  hours 
after  dawn  as  they  twigged  what  had  happened,  and 
then  every  man  of  them  rushed  fer  the  bosses." 

"Wall? "asked  Steve. 

"  They  wasn't  so  nigh  and  handy  as  Hawk  Eye  and 
his  men  imagined.  Jacob  aer  an  artful  feller.  He  and 
a  dozen  of  the  others  had  rid  round  the  end  of  the  gully 
where  we  reckoned  the  critters  kept  their  ponies.  They 
was  so  sure  that  we  was  kept  in  our  camp  on  top  of  the 


Black  Bill  to  the  Rescue        273 

hill  that  they  hadn't  put  more  than  ten  of  the  braves  to 
guard  them.  Reckon  Jacob  and  his  mates  went  in  with 
their  shooters,  and  before  you  could  wink  they  had  them 
ponies  runnin'." 

"  Then  you  got  back  to  the  ranches?"  asked  Tom,  with 
something  like  a  sigh  of  relief. 

"  You  may  put  it  like  that.  Gee,  how  it  did  make 
Jacob  thar  blush  when  Mrs.  Rivers  kissed  him  fer  hand- 
ing back  the  kid!  Mate,  you  ain't  got  no  call  ter  look 
thunder  and  wuss  at  me.  This  yarn  aer  true.  You 
was  axing,  Tom,  ef  there  was  more  business  with  thim 
Injun  critters.  There  war.  Hawk  Eye  and  his  men 
war  that  mad  at  the  trick  we'd  played  'em  that  they 
followed  in  full  strength,  and  fer  a  time  it  war  nearly  a 
case  with  us.  Thar  was  seventy  whites  in  all;  fer  we 
had  called  up  the  other  ranches,  while  Hawk  Eye  rode 
with  four  hundred  Injuns.  But  some  of  thim  had  had 
a  maulin',  and  we  didn't  sit  down  and  let  'em  forget  it. 
We  sent  'em  to  the  rightabout,  and  though  I  was  four 
years  longer  in  thim  parts,  thar  was  never  any  further 
trouble  from  the  varmint." 

"  In  fact,  you  gave  them  a  thumping,"  suggested 
Steve. 

"  It  war  pepper,"  answered  Bill,  smiling.  "  Wuss 
almost  than  we  give  the  Injuns  to-day.  Pepper  aer 
the  only  word  fer  it." 

Sleepy  after  their  day's  exciting  adventure,  it  was  not 
long  before  silence  reigned  round  the  camp  fire  where 
Jacob  and  Bill  had  been  yarning.  On  the  following  day 
they  pursued  their  way  unmolested,  and  presently 
climbed  the  mountain  slopes  of  the  Nevada  range. 
Thence  they  descended  into  California  and  reached 

(0179)     '  18 


274  Indian  and  Scout 

at  last  the  goal  for  which  they  had  been  making.  By 
then  Seth's  wound  was  healed,  while  Steve  was  as  active 
as  ever.  . 

"  And  here  we  begins  ter  think  about  minin',"  he  said. 
"Thar  ain't  no  more  Injuns  to  disturb  us,  so  it's  gold 
from  this  very  instant.  See  here,  Jack,  I'll  teach  yer 
how  ter  look  and  keep  yer  eyes  skinned,  so  as  ter  light 
on  likely  places." 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

The  Gold  Rush 

THE  gold  rush  to  California  was  no  new  thing  when 
Jack  and  his  friends  crossed  the  craggy  heights  of 
Nevada,  and  reached  the  green  valleys  to  the  west. 
Indeed  it  was  already  some  years  since  the  first  of 
that  long  stream  of  eager  individuals  had  pushed  across 
the  plains  with  the  object  of  discovering  gold.  Some 
had  made  huge  fortunes,  many  had  made  simply  a 
living,  while  not  a  few  had  failed  miserably. 

"And  a  tidy  sight  of  the  poor  things  has  left  their 
bones  out  on  them  plains,"  said  Tom,  when  discussing 
the  matter.  "  I  mind  the  time  when  America  went  mad 
about  this  here  gold  rush.  Everyone  was  fer  throwin' 
up  a  good  and  steady  job,  and  ample  wages,  ter  get  over 
to  Californy  and  try  his  luck.  And  in  the  minin'  camps 
yer  could  meet  the  hard-working  navvy,  the  store  clerk, 
the  doctor,  the  lawyer,  and  a  host  of  others.  There  war 
men  who  had  lost  their  all  way  back  east,  and  fer  whom 
the  finding  of  gold  meant  everything.  Mostly  they  was 
disappointed,  'cos  gold  diggin'  aer  a  gamble,  and  gamblin' 
aer  a  game  that  ain't  never  safe  ter  play  unless  yer  kin 
afford  ter  lose.  Even  then  it  ain't  good.  A  man  was 
meant  ter  take  up  a  settled  job,  and  put  his  back  into  it 

276 


276  Indian  and  Scout 

Gamblers  hope  ter  make  a  pile  and  live  easy  on  it  fer 
a  time  without  troublin'  to  work.  Wall,  that  ain't  right. 
Men  like  that  ain't  much  good  ter  their  country." 

"  Hear,  hear!"  called  out  Steve. 

"  Yer  see,"  went  on  Tom,  "  me  and  Steve  was  hunters 
first,  and  huntin'  ain't  a  steady  job,  as  it  war.  It  in- 
cludes makin'  money  as  best  we  could,  and  it  so  hap- 
pened that  him  and  me  was  Californy  way  at  the  very 
right  moment.  We  struck  up  pals,  and  went  into 
partnership,  and  thar  yer  are.  Wall,  as  I  was  sayin', 
yer  could  meet  most  any  sort  of  man  at  the  diggin's. 
The  cut-throat  and  robber,  as  wasn't  much  good  ter  no 
one.  The  foreigner,  the  English  gentleman,  sailors  and 
soldiers.  Some  came  across  the  plains.  A  tidy  few 
crossed  Panama,  and  took  ship  ter  'Frisco.  And  thar 
they  war,  diggin'  fer  their  lives,  lookin'  cross-eyed  at 
their  neighbours,  lest  they  should  strike  a  pile  fust. 
This  here  Californy's  chock-full  of  minin'  camps  that's 
been  abandoned  and  worked  out.  All  them  diggers 
settled  on  the  easiest  and  most  likely  spots,  and  yer 
may  take  it  that  they've  cleared  the  gold  most  every- 
whar  whar  it  war  easy  ter  get  at.  It  ain't  no  longer 
any  use  comin'  along  and  stakin'  claims  and  workin' 
'em.  YeVe  got  ter  prospect  a  heap,  and  then  set  up 
a  plant  bigger  than  any  of  them  first  diggers  had." 

"  And  ye've  got  ter  settle  down  ter  hard  work,"  burst 
in  Jacob. 

"Ye  have  that,"  agreed  Tom.  "What  do  yer  boys 
thar  think  of  doin'?  Me  and  Steve  and  Jack  thar  aer 
partners,  as  yer  all  know.  We've  lumped  in  a  goodish 
sight  of  money,  and  we've  got  sufficient  plant  ter  tackle 
any  job.  But  we  shall  be  wantin'  labour." 


The  Gold  Rush  277 

"And  six  men  ain't  too  many,"  said  Steve  quickly, 
lookin'  across  at  Jacob. 

Tom  and  Steve  and  Jack  had  talked  the  matter  over  on 
the  previous  day,  and  it  had  been  agreed  amongst  them 
that  they  should  invite  the  six  scouts  who  had  accom- 
panied them  across  the  plains  to  become  their  partners. 

"  Yer  see,"  said  Steve,  when  broaching  the  matter  to 
Tom  and  our  hero, "  tain't  like  takin'  on  men  as  we  don't 
know.  Jacob  and  the  other  boys  has  proved  themselves 
real  pals,  and  we  kin  trust  'em.  It  would  pay  us  all  ter 
go  on  as  we  aer." 

"  Look  here,  boys,"  cried  Tom,  facing  the  six  men, 
"me  and  my  mates  has  been  having  a  jaw,  and  we 
decided  we'd  get  to  and  ax  yer  ter  come  in  along 
with  us.  We  want  help,  willing  help,  and  guess  yer 
want  work.  Wall,  now,  there's  seventeen  Indian  hosses, 
and  away  here  in  Californy  horse  flesh  is  mighty  scarce 
jest  now,  and  hard  ter  get.  Ef  we  sold  'em  we  should 
make  a  fine  lot  of  dollars,  'specially  ef  we  didn't  do  a 
deal  in  too  great  a  hurry.  I  mean,  we  could  sell  one 
here,  another  thar,  and  so  on,  gettin'  good  prices 
all  the  time.  Then,  once  we've  located  a  spot  as 
seems  likely,  we  kin  get  to  and  sell  some  of  the  team. 
Our  saddle  hosses  kin  pull  the  cart  later  on,  if  it  aer 
needed  ter  get  moved.  Yer  share  of  them  seventeen 
hosses  would  give  yer  a  little  bit  to  put  into  the 
partnership.  We'd  pay  yer  so  much  wages  ef  yer 
didn't  like  that  arrangement.  But  seems  to  me  yer 
could  each  buy  an  interest.  Then  we  all  work  fer 
the  common  good.  Ef  it  pans  out  rich,  we  share 
according  to  the  interest  each  man  has.  Ef  we  strike 
a  bad  egg,  wall " 


278  Indian  and  Scout 

"  Yer  try  and  try  agin,"  laughed  Jacob.  "  Now,  look 
ye  here,  Tom,  and  you,  Steve,  and  that  'ere  Carrots. 
We've  took  to  yer  proper.  There  ain't  been  a  sore 
word  among  us  these  past  months.  Wall,  nat'ral  like, 
we've  been  wonderin'  what  we'd  do  once  we  struck 
Californy.  We  aer  here  fer  diggin',  and  sence  ye're 
the  same,  why,  we  kinder  estimated  as  ye'd  be  axin' 
us  this  question.  We  aer  ready  ter  come  in  on  these 
terms,  and  we  think  the  offer  handsome.  Rightly, 
sence  this  here  outfit  aer  yourn,  them  bosses  we  took 
from  the  Injuns  aer  yourn  also.  But  sence  you'll 
divide  square,  why,  that  aer  a  good  sign  that  we'll 
get  on  friendly  in  this  new  venture.  Me  and  my 
mates'll  stand  in  ter  win  or  lose.  Seems  ter  me,  seein' 
as  we  have  some  dollars  ter  work  on,  and  needn't  there- 
fore rush  at  the  job,  as  we  stand  an  uncommon  good 
chance." 

It  took  but  a  little  time  to  complete  the  arrange- 
ments, and  accordingly  the  little  party  halted  outside 
the  first  town  they  came  to,  where  a  lawyer  drew  up 
the  proper  agreements.  Meanwhile  a  purchaser  had 
been  found  for  the  Indian  horses,  which  fetched  a 
good  price,  and  the  share  that  Jacob  and  his  five 
friends  obtained  allowed  of  their  buying  quite  a  re- 
spectable interest  in  the  firm,  though  they  would  not, 
of  course,  have  such  a  large  interest  as  was  held  by 
Tom  and  Steve  and  Jack.  A  couple  of  days  later 
they  shook  the  dust  of  the  town  from  their  feet,  and, 
with  their  cart  replenished  with  sugar,  flour,  and  other 
simple  necessaries,  took  to  the  road  again. 

"  There  aer  a  gulch  as  me  and  Tom  spotted  last 
time  we  was  over  here,"  said  Steve  that  evening. 


The  Gold  Rush  279 

"We  allowed  as  we'd  make  fer  it  when  we  came  here 
agin,  fer  it  promises  somethin'.  It  aer  been  clean 
worked  out  in  the  flats  by  diggers." 

"But  that  don't  say  as  there  ain't  gold  left,"  added 
Tom.  "You,  mates,  haven't  no  experience  of  diggin', 
it  seems,  and  so  I'll  tell  yer  a  bit  about  it.  Reckon 
gold  aer  been  washin'  outer  the  rocks  of  the  moun- 
tains hereabouts  fer  centuries.  It  has  got  floated  along 
in  the  streams,  and  where  they  run  swift  it  hasn't 
settled.  But  as  soon  as  ever  it  has  reached  a  spot  where 
the  ground  is  flat,  them  'ere  specks  of  gold  has  come 
down  to  the  bottom.  In  course  of  ages,  what  with 
dirt  and  gravel  and  sichlike,  the  bed  of  the  river  aer 
got  filled  bung  up,  and  the  water  aer  made  a  different 
course.  Diggers  has  staked  claims  whar  thar's  been 
some  old  river  bed,  and  have  dug  the  gold  from  the 
gravel.  They've  took  pretty  well  every  ounce  by  now 
from  sich  sort  of  places;  but  they  ain't  by  a  long 
chalk  got  all  the  dust  thar  is  in  this  country.  Steve 
and  me  struck  a  gulch  that  seemed  likely,  and  we're 
goin'  thar  to  prospect." 

It  took  the  party  another  three  weeks  to  find  and 
reach  the  gulch  of  which  Steve  had  spoken,  and,  once 
arrived,  they  set  about  prospecting  in  earnest  for  gold. 

"  Yer  can  see  whar  the  old  diggers  came  and  dug 
their  claims,"  explained  Steve  to  Jack.  "Everywhar 
down  in  the  flats  thar's  holes  and  heaps  of  dirt.  But 
none  of  them  seed  what  Tom  and  me  did.  This  gulch 
is  narrow  and  flat;  the  sides  come  in  suddenly,  and 
rise  to  somewheres  about  four  hundred  feet.  And  up 
thar  there's  a  big  kind  of  tableland  that  runs  back 
fer  miles.  Wall,  now,  the  stream  that  come  into  the 


280  Indian  and  Scout 

gulch  back  in  them  early  times  aer  moved,  else  the 
miners  wouldn't  have  been  able  ter  stake  their  claims. 
Yer  can't  see  it  now,  but  ef  yer  ride  ten  miles  up  the 
gulch  ye'll  find  it  pouring  over  a  cliff  and  crashin* 
down  ter  the  bottom.  Do  yer  see  what  I'm  drivin'  at?" 

Jack  thought  he  did.  "  I  suppose  your  idea  is  to 
find  the  old  stream,  or  the  place  where  it  once  entered 
the  gulch.  I  should  say  that  if  the  land  up  there  is 
flat,  and  the  river  shifted  years  and  years  ago  to  some 
other  place,  it  must  be  because  the  bed  up  there  got 
filled  with  gravel  and  stuff,  and  so  deflected  the  course 
of  the  water." 

"  Right!  That  aer  the  thing  that  happened,  I  guess. 
Wall,  now,  we've  got  ter  find  the  spot  whar  that  'ere 
stream  tumbled  over  the  cliff,  and  ter  do  that  we  don't 
need  ter  ride  clear  up  the  gulch  and  search  all  along. 
Them  old  miners  are  done  that.  Their  diggin's  don't 
go  more  than  three  miles  up  from  here,  and,  as  ye've 
seen  fer  yerself,  there  ain't  any  down  lower.  So  I 
reckon  that  stream  came  over  the  cliff  somewhars 
along  these  three  miles.  It  may  have  been  down  here, 
or  mebbe  it  war  up  thar.  Thar  ain't  no  sayin',  and 
it  ain't  of  no  use  ter  go  by  the  fall  of  the  land.  Thar's 
been  earthquakes  and  queer  ructions  here  in  past  days, 
and  the  land  aer  altered." 

It  took  a  week's  patient  and  careful  scrutiny  of  the 
gulch  to  discover  the  point  where  the  stream  must  have 
flowed  into  the  gulch  in  past  ages,  and  when  the  place 
was  found,  to  the  amazement  of  all  it  was  almost  pre- 
cisely where  they  had  made  their  temporary  camp. 

"  Which  aer  a  good  omen,"  observed  Jacob. 

"Thet  water  must  have  been  comin'  over  fer  a  sight 


The  Gold  Rush  281 

of  years,"  said  Tom,  as  he  clambered  with  Jack  up 
the  steep  face  of  the  cliff.  "A  chap  might  hunt  and 
hunt,  and  never  have  no  notion  that  it  war  here  it 
come  over.  But  a  spade  helps  a  deal  in  these  matters, 
and  here  we  have  a  solid  stretch  of  gravel,  sixty  yards 
across,  roughly,  wedged  in  between  a  couple  of  rocky 
walls.  Do  yer  foller  what  happened?" 

"  I  think  I  see  clearly,"  said  Jack.  "  There  must 
have  been  a  deep  slit  in  the  rocks  years  ago,  and  the 
water  flowed  along  it  and  emptied  into  this  gulch.  I 
suppose  the  water  drained  from  mountains  right  over 
there?" 

"  Thatf  aer  so,"  agreed  Tom.  "  Thar's  a  big  water- 
shed back  away  at  the  top  of  the  cliff,  and  thar  must 
have  been  a  flood  coming  along  this  channel." 

"  Slowly,  I  think,"  said  Jack,  "  else  the  channel  would 
have  been  continually  washed  clean.  But  it  has  filled 
and  filled,  till,  in  the  course  of  ages,  the  whole  thing 
has  become  blocked  and  the  water  has  found  a  new 
channel  for  itself." 

"  And  aer  left  us  here  a  pile  of  gravel,  which  may 
or  may  not  hold  gold.  Reckon,  seein'  that  thim 
diggin's  down  thar  is  extensive  and  deep  dug,  that 
the  miners  in  this  camp  made  something  of  it.  So 
thar's  every  chance  that  gold  did  come  down.  Ef 
it  did,  thar's  a  sight  of  it  in  this  gravel.  Not  here, 
perhaps,  for  the  stream  would  quicken  a  bit,  just  whar 
it  was  goin'  ter  fall;  but  a  few  yards  back.  Anyway, 
we'll  set  to  and  test  it." 

That  afternoon  picks  and  spades  were  hard  at  work 
on  the  wedge  of  gravel  between  its  rocky  walls.  A 
cradle  made  of  sheet  iron  was  filled  and  taken  down 


282  Indian  and  Scout 

to  the  stream  which  passed  the  camp  down  below, 
and  water  was  allowed  to  flow  into  it  while  Steve  and 
Tom  rocked  it.  Thar  were  anxious  faces  peering  into 
the  depths  of  the  cradle,  when  at  length  the  contents 
had  been  sufficiently  washed.  The  water  was  allowed 
to  drain  away,  big  pieces  of  rock  and  stone  were  care- 
fully removed,  and  finally  a  layer  of  sand  was  come 
upon.  It  glistened  in  the  sun." 

"Hooroo!"  shouted  Tom.  "That  aer  gold.  Not  a 
heap  of  it,  but  gold ;  and  tidy  rich,  I  should  say,  seein' 
it  comes  from  the  face  of  the  gravel.  Now  we'll  take 
another  sample." 

They  worked  till  night  fell,  and  again  on  the  following 
day.  Choosing  the  very  centre  of  the  wedge  of  gravel, 
they  burrowed  some  three  yards  into  it,  testing  samples 
from  time  to  time,  and  finding  a  richer  deposit  of  gold 
dust  in  the  cradle  the  deeper  they  went.  Then,  with  a 
shout  of  satisfaction,  Jacob  unearthed  a  nugget  the  size 
of  a  bean. 

"  There  ain't  no  need  ter  go  farther,"  said  Tom,  when 
the  night  had  fallen,  and  they  were  seated  round  the 
camp  fire.  "  Thar  aer  work  here  fer  the  crowd  of  us  ter 
take  us  a  hull  year.  Now  we  has  to  engineer  the  business 
properly,  fer  it  stands  ter  reason  nine  men,  nor  ninety, 
can't  dig  all  that  stuff  away.  It  would  take  years.  We 
have  ter  make  some  other  sorter  arrangement,  and  fer 
that  we've  the  apparatus  in  the  cart.  What  we'll  do  is 
this.  We'll  tap  the  river  'way  up  thar.  Me  and  Steve 
measured  it  up  yesterday:  it  aer  jest  twenty -eight 
yards  from  the  edge,  and  out  of  line  of  the  old  stream. 
Perhaps  it  was  formed  only  lately;  but  it  carries  heaps 
of  water  and  will  give  us  all  we  want.  We'll  lead  it 


The  Gold  Rush  283 

down  through  a  wooden  sluice,  take  the  water  ter  an 
iron  nozzle,  and  wash  the  dirt  out  into  a  wooden  trough 
below.  Now,  mates,  we  want  wood  first  of  all,  and  some 
of  us'll  have  ter  get  off  ter  the  nearest  sawmill  ter  buy 
and  fetch  it.  T'others  can  fix  the  camp  while  they're 
gone,  and  get  ter  work  diggin'  the  new  channel  up  thar." 

The  whole  plan  of  operations  was  quickly  agreed 
upon,  and  promptly,  on  the  following  morning,  Jacob 
and  three  of  his  mates  unloaded  the  wagon,  and  went 
off  with  a  full  team  to  the  sawmill,  some  twenty  miles 
away.  The  others  clambered  to  the  top  of  the  cliff, 
and  for  three  days  laboured  at  digging  a  trench  three 
feet  wide  and  as  many  deep.  They  brought  it  from 
the  bank  of  the  stream  mentioned  by  Tom  which  ran 
across  the  height  above  within  reach  of  the  edge,  to 
the  point  where  one  of  the  rocky  walls  that  had  once 
enclosed  the  stream  cropped  into  the  open.  Then  they 
searched  for  a  bed  of  clay,  and  finding  some,  puddled 
it  with  water  till  it  was  thin  enough  for  their  purpose, 
when  they  smeared  it  over  the  sides  and  bottom  of  the 
channel  they  had  dug. 

"  It'll  dry  hard  by  to-morrow,"  said  Tom;  "then  we'll 
give  it  another  coat.  It'll  keep  the  water  from  washin' 
stones  down  into  the  nozzle  and  blockin'  it.  Jack, 
reckon  the  time's  come  fer  yer  anvil." 

For  the  week  following  Jack  found  his  hands  filled. 
Up  at  cockcrow  in  the  morning,  he  donned  his  leathern 
apron,  and  set  his  fire  going.  Then  his  hammer  fell 
and  clinked  musically  as  he  forged  stout  iron  bands, 
which  were  to  support  the  wooden  framing  his  friends 
were  constructing.  It  cost  a  great  deal  of  hard  labour 
to  bring  all  their  arrangements  to  a  satisfactory  com- 


284  Indian  and  Scout 

pletion;  but  when  the  task  was  finished  they  had  a 
channel  completed  above,  with  a  sluice  by  means  of 
which  they  could  allow  water  to  enter  at  will.  Another 
blocked  the  stream  which  they  were  tapping,  just  below 
their  channel,  thus  giving  them  an  ample  head  of  water. 
The  other  end  of  the  channel,  where  it  ended  at  the 
edge  of  the  cliff,  was  completely  boxed  in  with  boards, 
held  together  with  heavy  forgings,  and  from  this  point 
the  water  poured  down  a  long,  square  wooden  pipe, 
strengthened  in  the  same  manner.  At  the  very  end 
the  stream  was  led  into  a  huge  iron  pipe,  which  got 
smaller  and  smaller,  till  it  eventually  presented  a  six- 
inch  orifice,  while  the  last  six  feet  were  capable  of 
some  amount  of  movement,  whereby  the  course  of  the 
jet  could  be  deflected. 

"  A  man  couldn't  stand  before  it,"  said  Tom,  survey- 
ing the  jet  when  all  was  ready.  "  The  force  of  water'll 
be  sich  that  ef  we  was  ter  close  the  jet  it'd  bust  the 
wooden  pipe  above.  As  it  is,  thar'll  be  a  stream  comin' 
from  that  'ere  nozzle  that'll  eat  into  the  gravel  quicker 
than  the  hull  lot  of  us,  and  it'll  wash  piles  of  dirt  down 
into  the  catches  we  have  made.  Ter-morrer  we  start  in 
right  away  at  the  real  business." 

It  had  been  no  easy  matter  to  arrange  their  catches 
below  the  point  where  the  water  was  to  play  upon  the 
cliff  and  gravel.  But  Steve  was  a  knowing  fellow,  and 
had  insisted  that  the  jet  should  be  brought  as  low  as 
possible. 

"So  as  ter  undermine  the  rest  of  the  stuff,"  he  ex- 
plained. "Then  it'll  fall  in  easy." 

A  wooden  channel  was  erected  below  the  spot  where 
the  jet  was  to  play,  the  width  of  which,  great  at  first 


The  Gold  Rush  285 

narrowed  steadily,  while  the  channel  itself  descended 
at  a  sharp  angle.  Every  ten  feet  along  it  bulkheads 
were  erected  across,  in  wedge-shape  pattern,  the  apex 
of  the  wedge  being  presented  upward.  Finally  the 
channel  ended  in  a  basin,  with  an  overflow  to  take 
the  water  off. 

"  It's  down  below  we  shall  get  the  dust,"  said  Tom, 
surveying  the  whole  plant  with  no  little  pride.  "  Them 
iron  washing  troughs  will  soon  collect  it  for  us,  and 
with  much  less  diggin'  than  we  should  ha'  had  to  do. 
Up  here,  whar  the  channel's  steeper,  and  nearer  the 
jet,  we  aer  likely  ter  get  nuggets.  Reckon  it'll  pay  us 
ter  go  steady.  We'll  play  the  jet  first  thing  in  the 
morning,  till  the  channel  and  the  partitions  in  it  aer 
pretty  full.  Then  we'll  shut  off  the  water,  and  get  to  at 
washing.  There's  a  trough  fer  each  of  us,  and  one  man 
can  do  a  heap,  considerin'  the  arrangements  we  have 
made." 

The  whole  plant  was,  in  fact,  splendidly  engineered. 
In  order  to  save  labour,  they  had  not  only  pressed  the 
water  from  the  stream  above  into  their  service,  with  the 
idea  of  making  it  dig  by  its  force,  and  bring  the  gravel 
away  from  between  its  rocky  walls;  but  they  had  so 
contrived  matters  that  they  could  open  a  sluice  at  the 
bottom  of  the  huge  wooden  pipe  which  fed  the  water 
to  the  jet,  and  could  pass  the  contents  down  a  narrow 
channel,  running  beside  the  one  constructed,  to  catch 
the  dirt.  Suspended  in  this,  one  opposite  each  bulk- 
head, was  a  long  wooden  trough,  either  end  faced  with 
a  plate  of  iron,  in  which  Jack  had  bored  numerous 
holes,  small  at  the  bottom,  and  getting  bigger  towards 
the  top. 


286  Indian  and  Scout 

"  They're  jest  like  the  washing  troughs  used  by 
diggers,"  explained  Tom,  "  and  me  and  Steve's  rocked 
'em  day  in  and  day  out.  Yer  see,  the  stuff  one  shovels 
into  them  gets  broken  up  by  the  rocking,  while  the 
water  carries  the  grit  away.  One  pitches  the  big  stuff 
out  with  one's  hands,  while  the  sand  and  the  gold 
settles.  Gee,  ef  after  all  this  here  preparation,  we  don't 
make  a  pile,  why,  bust  me,  I'll  take  ter  scoutin'  agin!" 

Let  the  reader  imagine  the  excitement  amongst  this 
little  party  on  the  following  morning.  Tom  lit  his  pipe 
to  show  his  coolness  and  his  utter  disregard  of  results, 
and  clambered  to  the  top  of  the  cliff.  But  it  was  not 
the  same  cool  Tom  who  had  commanded  the  movements 
of  the  band  when  attacked  by  Indians.  His  hand  was 
trembling  as  he  manoeuvred  the  sluice  gate  above,  while 
his  anxiety  to  see  the  water  shoot  from  the  jet  was  that 
of  a  little  boy. 

"Gee- whiz!  Did  you  ever!"  he  exclaimed  as  the 
water  spurted  from  the  jet,  and,  hitting  the  face  of  the 
gravel,  began  to  dig  a  path  into  it.  "  Ef  that  ain't  better 
than  diggin' !  Though  it  has  cost  a  sight  of  labour  ter  get 
it  all  ready.  Look  how  the  dirt  comes  down.  Reckon 
it  won't  be  long  afore  we  have  ter  pipe  farther  along, 
so  as  ter  follow  the  grit." 

That  afternoon,  when  the  bulkheads  and  the  channel 
in  which  they  were  placed  were  crammed  with  fallen 
gravel,  the  sluice  at  the  bottom  of  the  wooden  pipe  was 
opened,  and  the  spurt  of  water  from  the  jet  ceased. 
Then  the  various  individuals  of  the  party  set  to  work 
with  their  shovels,  and,  each  selecting  one  of  the  troughs, 
threw  the  stuff  which  had  been  washed  down  into  it, 
and  rocked  vigorously,  while  the  stream  played  through 


The  Gold  Rush  287 

the  holes  at  the  head  of  the  trough,  washed  the  dirt, 
and  trickled  out  at  the  farther  end.  The  most  excit- 
ing time  of  all  had  arrived.  Each  one  of  the  party 
wondered  if,  when  he  had  laboured  for  a  while,  and 
had  at  length  cleared  away  the  debris,  he  would  find 
the  bottom  of  his  trough  filled  with  common  sand,  or 
whether  amidst  the  yellow  particles  there  would  be 
others,  gleaming  bright  in  the  sunshine,  the  gold  for 
which  he  laboured  and  on  which  he  had  set  his  heart. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

Tom  makes  a  Find 

"  GEE  !     Come  here,  boys ! " 

It  was  a  shout  from  Tom  that  broke  the  trying 
silence  that  had  fallen  upon  Jack  and  his  comrades 
at  their  several  troughs,  and  at  the  sound  they  flung 
down  their  spades,  or  ceased  rocking  the  cradles,  and 
hastened  to  the  side  of  the  hunter.  Tom's  face  was 
flushed  a  brick  red,  which  extended  under  his  sunburn 
down  over  neck  and  chest  and  arms.  The  pipe  gripped 
between  his  teeth  was  wabbling  and  trembling  strangely, 
while  this  habitually  cool  man  was  actually  shivering 
i  with  excitement. 

"  Boys,"  he  said  in  a  thin  voice,  as  if  he  were  dazed, 
"  didn't  we  come  here  fer  gold,  ter  find  somethin'  to  pay 
us  fer  all  them  weeks  of  travel,  fer  fightin'  with  the 
Injuns,  and  fer  all  the  labour  we've  put  in  here?  Say, 
ain't  thet  it?" 

"Guess  so,"  answered  Steve  laconically,  while  the 
others  nodded,  some  briskly,  with  a  smile  of  expectation, 
others  with  a  grin;  for  Tom's  obvious  excitement  was 
catching,  while  others  again  jerked  their  heads  in  a 
curiously  spasmodic  manner,  and  stood  looking  at  the 
scout  awkwardly,  as  if  ashamed  to  show  too  much 
interest,  and  yet  disclosing  by  the  brightness  of  their 


Tom  makes  a  Find  289 

eyes  the  undoubted  fact  that  they  were  eager  for  his 
news. 

"  Wall!"  asked  Jacob.  "  You've  struck  it,  eh?  I  ain't 
had  time  ter  look  into  my  little  lot,  but  others  may  have 
done." 

"  And  I  ain't  had  time  to  get  searchin'  in  amongst  all 
the  stuff  that's  left  in  my  cradle,"  cried  Tom,  blurting 
the  words  out  rapidly.  "  But  yer  kin  see  whar  I  am. 
Top  of  the  lot  of  yer,  jest  whar  all  the  heavy  stuff  is 
sure  ter  lie.  Yer  see,  the  fall  is  thet  sharp  that  light 
stuff  and  grit  gets  washed  over  the  catch  jest  here. 
Only  big  stones  and  sichlike  gets  caught.  Wall,  aer 
that  a  stone?" 

His  face  was  all  wrinkled  with  smiles,  as  Tom  flung  out 
the  hand  which  up  till  that  moment  he  had  held  behind 
him.  In  the  open  palm  a  dirty,  discoloured  object  of 
irregular  shape  was  lying,  and  at  a  rough  guess  it  was 
nearly  as  large  as  a  cricket  ball.  The  scout  turned 
it  over,  and  then  moved  his  hand  in  a  half-circle,  bring- 
ing the  object  beneath  the  eyes  of  each  one  of  his 
partners  in  turn.  Then  Steve  stepped  forward,  and, 
taking  the  mass,  as  if  it  were  actually  only  a  common 
stone,  threw  it  up  some  few  inches  into  the  air,  and 
repeated  the  process.  Passing  it  to  his  mouth  he  then 
tried  his  teeth  on  the  surface,  and  finally,  with  a  quick 
stride,  stepping  to  the  side  of  the  little  stream  which 
delivered  water  to  the  washing  troughs,  he  dipped  the 
object  in  it,  rinsed  it  thoroughly,  and  then  brought 
it  into  the  strong  sunlight  again.  And  now  it  had 
changed  its  character.  The  mass  was  no  longer  soiled 
and  discoloured.  It  was  of  a  dull,  golden  colour,  deeply 
scored  here  and  there  where  the  shape  was  most 

(0179)  19 


290  Indian  and  Scout 

irregular,  and  displaying  a  perfectly  smooth,  rounded 
surface  in  other  parts.  In  the  very  centre  of  this 
rounded  part,  emerging  half  an  inch  from  the  golden 
mass  was  a  splinter  of  flint,  firmly  embedded  in  the 
metal. 

"Boys,"  said  Steve  coolly,  though  the  little  scout's 
eyes  were  strangely  bright,  "  I  'low  as  this  aer  the 
evenin'  when  we  kin  have  a  picnic  in  the  camp.  We 
ha'  worked  hard,  and  travelled  far,  and  it  aer  gold 
we've  come  fer.  Wall,  thar  it  is.  Thar's  a  nugget,  ef 
ever  I  saw  one,  and  it's  tidy  sartin  it  ain't  the  only  one 
as  we  shall  drop  upon.  Ef  thet's  the  case,  me  and  you, 
mates,  will  have  somethin'  ter  take  back  with  us  ter  repay 
us  fer  all  the  labour.  Thet  bein'  so,  it  aer  clear  thet  it 
aer  Jacob's  duty  ter  bring  out  thet  bottle  of  spirits  ter- 
night.  Abe,  too,  might  get  to  pretty  soon  and  cook  us 
a  meal  that'll  lick  anythin'  we've  touched  this  many  a 
month." 

There  was  a  roar  of  applause  as  the  little  scout 
finished,  and  then  all  crowded  round  to  examine  the 
nugget  which  Tom  had  discovered. 

"  It  war  the  fust  thing  my  fingers  hit  upon  when  I  got 
to  search  in  the  trough,"  said  Tom,  "  and  I  wouldn't  be 
surprised  ef  I  found  more.  Mates,  supposin'  we  gets 
back  ter  the  business.  That  'ere  nugget  ain't  enough 
in  itself  ter  pay  us  back  fer  all  the  outlay  we've  put  into 
the  plant,  sayin'  nothin'  of  the  labour." 

It  was  with  a  feeling  of  eager  expectation-  that  all 
went  back  to  their  troughs,  and  recommenced  throwing 
dirt  into  them  and  rocking.  At  the  end  of  three 
hours,  when  they  ceased  work  for  the  night,  it  was 
found  that  Tom's  bulkhead  had  indeed  caught  the 


Tom  makes  a  Find  291 

richest  harvest.  There  were  a  dozen  nuggets  to  be 
seen,  though  not  of  the  same  size  as  that  which  he 
had  first  discovered.  Three  more,  about  the  size  of  a 
bean,  were  unearthed  from  the  next  two  troughs,  while 
the  washings  of  the  troughs  below  were  without  nuggets. 
But  the  harvest  of  gold  dust  was  plentiful,  so  good,  in- 
deed, that  it  became  obvious  at  once  that  if  only  such 
fortune  could  continue  for  a  week,  the  party  would 
pay  all  outgoings,  the  expenses  of  their  return  to  New 
York,  if  need  be,  and  still  leave  a  sum  in  reserve  which, 
when  divided,  would  give  each  member  of  the  firm  a 
handsome  sum  to  bank. 

"  But  we  ain't  goin'  ter  leave  in  a  week,"  said  Tom 
with  a  grin  of  exultation,  as  he  sat  hugging  the  camp 
fire  that  night  and  nursing  a  pannikin  of  spirits.  "  There's 
dirt  enough  between  them  cliffs  ter  keep  us  going  fer  a 
year,  and  I  looks  at  it  this  way:  Ef  it's  rich  out  here,  at 
the  end  of  the  stream,  so  to  speak,  it'll  be  richer  still  the 
farther  in  we  goes;  'cos  the  stream  will  have  been  more 
sluggish.  That  will  have  allowed  the  gold  ter  settle, 
and  whar  thar's  been  big  rocks  and  boulders,  with  holes 
and  pockets  in  'em,  the  chances  aer  we  shall  hit  upon 
more  nuggets.  Of  course  we  shan't  get  all  the  gold  thar 
is,  by  a  heap.  Some'll  be  washed  through  the  troughs, 
and  the  catch  tank  we've  made  won't  hold  it  all.  But, 
ef  it's  thar,  as  I  ain't  a  doubt,  why,  we'll  get  enough  and 
ter  spare  of  it." 

As  the  days  went  on  it  became  evident  that  the  little 
party  had  become  possessed  of  a  veritable  gold  mine, 
for  their  takings  at  the  end  of  each  day  were  greater 
than  those  on  the  first  occasion.  But  they  were  not 
all  the  while  engaged  in  rocking  the  cradles.  There 


292  Indian  and  Scout 

was  much  hard  work  to  be  accomplished,  and  in  this 
Jack  took  a  fair  share.  Indeed,  he  worked  for  hours 
at  his  anvil,  forging  new  iron  bands  to  bind  extensions 
of  their  wooden  waterway,  or  making  various  fittings 
for  other  parts  of  the  plant.  There  were  spades  and 
picks  to  be  repaired  now  and  again,  though  not  so  often 
as  would  have  been  the  case  had  they  not  pressed  water 
into  their  service. 

When  he  had  a  few  idle  moments,  nothing  delighted 
him  more  than  to  clamber  towards  the  point  where 
the  gigantic  nozzle  was  secured  in  its  wooden  cradle, 
to  watch  the  jet  of  water  surging  from  it,  and  to  see 
the  stream  splay  out  as  it  leaped  into  the  open,  and 
then  dash  itself  into  thousands  and  thousands  of  the 
minutest  drops  as  it  struck  the  trembling  gravel.  There 
was  something  wonderfully  fascinating  about  the  iri- 
descent colours  which  played  to  and  fro  in  the  spray,  as 
the  sun's  rays  flickered  and  poured  upon  it.  There  was 
a  note  which  was  almost  musical  coming  from  the  very 
lip  of  the  nozzle,  while  without  cessation  there  was  the 
slither  of  loosened  stones  and  dirt,  the  thud  of  heavier 
pieces  and  of  boulders,  and,  on  occasion,  when  the  jet 
had  undermined  the  gravel  to  some  great  extent,  a 
mighty,  awe-inspiring  commotion,  as  tons  upon  tons  of 
material  came  thundering  down. 

If  he  tired  of  the  neighbourhood  of  the  jet,  of  that 
fascinating  gush  and  gurgie  of  water,  and  of  the  rain- 
bow colours  which  played  about  the  spray  so  long 
as  the  sun's  rays  fell,  he  had  merely  to  step  down  a 
few  paces,  and  there  was  more  to  interest  him.  For, 
from  the  point  where  the  water  played,  a  surging  stream 
tumbled  and  roared  downhill  in  the  huge  channel  pre- 


Tom  makes  a  Find  293 

pared  for  it — a  yellow,  dirty  flood,  as  if  the  water  came 
from  a  river  after  heavy  falls  of  rain.  Who  would  have 
thought  to  look  at  that  yellow  stream  that  it  contained 
riches,  riches  long  hidden  in  the  gravel,  scoured  from 
the  rocks  of  past  ages,  and  lying  for  many  a  century 
undisturbed  in  the  river  bed?  Riches,  too,  which  man's 
industry  and  courage  and  astuteness  were  now  bringing 
to  light,  and  separating  from  its  grosser  surroundings. 

"  Though  I  don't  know  as  it  aer  always  fer  the  best," 
soliloquized  Steve  one  day,  as  he  stood  watching  the 
scene  with  Jack  beside  him.  "This  here  hunt  fer  gold 
don't  always  lead  ter  goodness.  Thar's  a  sight  of  bad 
blood  made  over  it,  either  here,  at  the  diggin's,  or  way 
back  in  the  settlements.  In  the  first  place,  it  seems  ter 
me  that  the  scum  of  the  earth  collects  whar  the  men  aer 
at  work,  lookin'  ter  make  their  fortunes — thieves,  and 
gamblers,  and  sichlike  —  hangin'  about  like  a  set  of 
jackals,  ter  take  the  stuff  from  the  men  who  find  it. 
Thar's  murders  been  committed,  Jack." 

"  I  know,  to  my  cost,"  answered  our  hero  after  a  while ; 
for  up  till  now  he  had  never  ventured  to  tell  his  com- 
rades that  his  own  father  had  lost  his  life  at  the  diggings. 
"  A — a  relative  of  mine  was  shot  in  one  of  the  saloons 
out  in  California.  He  was  murdered." 

There  was  silence  between  them  for  a  while,  and  then 
Steve  spoke. 

"Ah!"  he  said,  as  if  he  had  been  thinking  deeply  and 
looking  back  into  the  distance ;  "  them  murders  was  fre- 
quent some  ten  years  ago.  Out  here  in  Californy  thar 
was  the  biggest  set  of  blackguards  round  the  camps  that 
was  ever  ter  be  met  with.  They  ran  saloons,  and  robbed 
the  men  as  went  thar,  robbed  'em  not  only  by  providin' 


294  Indian  and  Scout 

spirits  that  were  so  bad  that  they  pisoned  a  fellow,  while 
the  price  was  that  big  it  frightened  yer,  but  robbed  them 
at  cards  and  games  of  chance.  Then  thar  was  bands 
that  held  up  the  gold  trains  makin'  fer  Sacramento  and 
other  cities,  to  bank  the  riches  thar.  And  thar  was 
scoundrels  that  looked  like  ordinary  miners,  and  acted 
the  part,  but  all  the  while  they  was  ready  fer  murder, 
so  long  as  they  could  steal  the  gold  which  others  had 
made.  I  could  tell  yer  a  yarn  about  one  of  that  sort, 
only  jest  now  it  wouldn't  kinder  suit  this  here  place, 
it's  that  peaceful ;  and  when  I  get  to  think  of  that  'ere 
ruffian,  and  tell  of  his  treachery,  why,  it  brings  a  bad 
taste  inter  the  mouth,  and  one  seems  ter  see  quite  differ- 
ent. One  of  these  days  I'll  tell  yer  about  him,  and,  ef 
yer  like,  yer  can  give  me  your  yarn." 

The  very  mention  of  such  a  matter  sent  Jack's 
thoughts  back  to  the  time  when  he  was  but  a  little 
fellow.  He  could  remember  his  mother's  grief  when 
his  father  left  for  the  diggings,  and  the  great  hope 
which  he  and  his  wife  had  that  the  trip  he  was  about 
to  make  would  prove  successful  and  help  them  out  of 
their  troubles.  He  could  cast  his  mind  back,  too,  to 
that  fatal  day  when  the  news  came  that  Tom  Kingsley 
had  been  killed  in  a  brawl  with  his  partner;  that  he 
had,  in  fact,  been  murdered.  But  he  was  too  young 
at  the  time  to  feel  the  loss  so  greatly,  though  the  tale 
had  never  escaped  his  memory.  And  then  his  thoughts 
wandered  to  his  own  troubles. 

"  They  seem  as  far  off  almost  as  Father's  death,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "  I  never  thought,  when  I  stood  in  the 
prisoner's  dock  at  Hopeville,  that  I  should  ever  be  happy 
again.  Yet  I  have  had  a  thoroughly  jolly  time,  and 


Tom  makes  a  Find  295 

I  feel  somehow  as  if  the  future  would  be  clear,  as  if  I 
should  get  to  the  bottom  of  the  matter." 

To  look  at  our  hero  no  one  would  for  a  moment 
have  thought  him  capable  of  any  criminal  act.  A  tall, 
stout,  sunburned  young  fellow  he  looked,  and  as  he 
stood  beside  the  stream  there,  his  sleeves  rolled  to  his 
elbow,  his  wide-brimmed  hat  tilted  back  till  his  red 
hair  shone  in  the  sun,  one  could  not  but  admit  that  he 
looked  happy,  that  he  carried  himself  as  every  young 
fellow  should,  with  that  appearance  of  self-assurance 
and  happiness  which  is  common  to  youth,  and  with  a 
steady  look  in  his  blue  eyes  and  a  fine  poise  of  his  head 
which  spoke  of  resolution,  of  a  conscience  clear  of  all 
guilt.  When  he  took  himself  to  his  anvil,  and  made 
the  sparks  fly,  why,  even  Tom  would  come  along  and 
watch  him. 

"Gee!"  he  had  exclaimed  more  than  once.  "He's  as 
mild-lookin'  as  milk.  Who  would  ha'  thought  as  that 
'ere  young  chap  could  ha'  took  Steve  in  hand!  But 
Steve  says  himself  as  he  felt  like  a  chicken,  and  had 
ter  do  as  he  war  bid.  That  jest  goes  ter  show  that 
it  ain't  always  wise  to  judge  by  appearances.  I  mind 
a  young  chap,  with  stoopy  shoulders  and  a  bit  of  fluff 
on  his  lips,  as  looked  as  ef  he  couldn't  do  more  than  say 
'boo!'  to  a  goose.  But  when  one  of  the  rough  chaps  we 
has  now  and  agin  out  on  the  plains  set  in  ter  play  larks 
with  him,  why,  that  'ere  young  fellow  kinder  shook  off 
his  soft  looks  and  went  in  and  hammered  the  chap  as 
was  playin'  larks.  Jack's  one  of  them  sort,  only  he 
don't  never  look  soft.  And,  gee!  he  can  work,  kin  thet 
young  feller." 

Our  hero  did  indeed  earn  a  fair  share  of  the  reward 


296  Indian  and  Scout 

the  party  was  gaining,  and,  being  a  jovial  fellow,  ready 
to  listen  to  all  the  yarns  that  were  going,  and  not 
anxious  to  pose  as  being  better  than  his  comrades,  it 
followed  that  he  was  immensely  popular,  particularly 
when  Steve,  a  well-known  scout,  had  spoken  so  warmly 
as  to  his  grit  and  courage. 

"  There's  jest  one  thing  that  ain't  right  about  that  'ere 
young  Carrots,"  he  had  observed  more  than  once  in  his 
hard,  dry-as-dust  manner.  "  Jack  aer  got  something  up 
agin  him,  and  it  has  made  a  heap  of  play  on  his  mind. 
Reckon  he  got  into  a  muss  'way  back  in  the  settle- 
ments, and  couldn't  clear  hisself.  But  he  will.  That 
chap  sticks  to  things  he  takes  up,  and  ef  he  wants  tei 
clear  hisself  of  that  muss,  why,  guess  he'll  do  it.  Tom. 
jest  pass  along  that  'ere  keg  of  'bacca.  Yer  ain't  the 
only  one  as  smokes." 

Good  friends  they  all  were,  though  not  often  given  to 
much  conversation.  They  worked  at  the  cradles  or  at 
repairing  their  plant  from  sunrise  in  the  morning,  and 
only  broke  off  at  evening,  save  for  a  few  moments  which 
were  devoted  to  meals.  It  was  when  they  had  eaten 
their  supper,  and  pipes  were  going,  that  the  natural 
silence  and  taciturnity  of  the  scout  was  broken  before 
the  warmth  of  the  camp  fire.  Then,  as  the  darkness 
got  deeper,  first  Tom  perhaps,  then  Steve,  or  Jacob, 
or  Abe,  or  one  of  the  others,  would  tell  some  tale  of 
their  experiences — experiences  which  dealt  for  the  most 
part  with  Indians,  with  thieves,  or  with  some  hunting 
expedition. 

"  Boys,"  said  Tom  one  evening,  having  puffed  clouds 
of  smoke  from  his  lips,  "  we  ha'  been  at  this  here  place 
jest  a  couple  of  months,  and  me  and  Steve  has  been 


Tom  makes  a  Find  297 

thinkin'.  It  aer  time  we  weighed  up  that  'ere  gold,  and 
sent  it  down  to  the  town.  Yer  see,  one  never  knows 
when  thieves  won't  come  along,  and,  though  they  ain't 
likely  ter  touch  sich  a  strong  party  as  we  aer,  still  they 
might  get  the  stuff  by  a  bit  of  cheek  and  daring.  What 
say,  Jacob?" 

"  I'm  with  you,  Tom.  The  bank's  the  best  place  fer 
the  gold,  and  the  sooner  we  send  it  thar  the  better. 
Supposin'  we  weigh  out  now." 

It  required  a  full  hour  to  weigh  carefully  their  gains, 
and  when  the  work  was  completed  Jack  understood,  to 
his  amazement,  that  a  sum  was  due  to  him  which  would 
enable  him  to  live  in  comfort  for  a  dozen  years.  The 
share  of  Jacob  and  the  other  hunters  was  less;  but  it 
was  by  no  means  an  inconsiderable  sum,  for  the  mine 
had  proved  most  rich. 

"  Now  we  have  another  proposition,"  said  Tom,  grin- 
ning at  the  circle  around  him.  "  Thar's  heaps  of  gold 
fer  us  all  in  this  here  place.  I  believe  that  we  ain't  yet 
a  while  struck  the  richest  spot,  so  thar's  likely  enough 
more  ter  come.  Now  me  and  Steve  and  Carrots  thar  ha' 
had  another  jaw.  We  aer  prepared  ter  let  you  six  chaps 
buy  up  even  shares  with  us.  Jack'll  have  to  pay  some- 
thing, fer  he  ain't  got  quite  an  equal  share  with  us,  and 
in  course  yer  will  have  ter  pay  a  heap  more.  But  ye've 
the  stuff  here,  and  when  ye've  paid  thar'll  be  still  a 
goodish  pile  fer  each  man  to  bank.  How  do  yer  look 
at  the  proposition?" 

It  required  no  discussion  to  induce  the  six  scouts  to 
do  as  Tom  had  proposed.  Indeed,  the  proposition  was 
extremely  handsome.  And  when  the  terms  were  finally 
fixed,  Jack  found  himself  with  still  more  to  his  credit. 


298  Indian  and  Scout 

"Now  we'll  fix  about  taking  the  stuff,"  said  Tom. 
"Steve  here'll  boss  the  party;  and,  sence  we  ain't  got 
no  need  fer  an  anvil  jest  now,  why,  Carrots  had  best 
go  with  him.  Reckon  two  more  had  better  volunteer, 
and  that'll  be  sufficient." 

The  following  day  the  gold  was  divided  up  and  placed 
in  sacks,  which  were  lashed  across  the  backs  of  two  of 
the  horses.  Then  the  party  set  out  from  the  camp,  and 
turned  their  faces  towards  the  nearest  town. 

"  Now  we've  got  ter  fix  up  some  sort  of  arrangement 
as  ter  watchin',"  said  Steve,  once  the  mine  was  left 
behind.  "  Thar's  me,  and  Jack,  and  Abe,  and  old  Tom 
ter  do  the  work ;  and  though  I  don't  fear  that  anyone'll 
attempt  ter  take  this  stuff  from  us,  still  they  ain't  all 
gentlemen  in  these  here  parts,  and  it  aer  jest  as  well  ter 
be  careful.  See?" 

"You  bet!"  exclaimed  Abe.  "When  I  was  down  in 
the  settlements  last  week,  buying  pork  and  flour  and 
sichlike,  thar  war  a  tale  that  a  band  of  light-fingered 
gentry  was  out  and  had  held  up  more'n  one  convoy  with 
gold.  That  was  up  Sacramento  way.  But  them  thieves 
shift  their  ground  when  things  get  warm,  and  always 
when  they  hear  that  a  party  aer  gettin'  gold." 

"  Which  they  ain't  done  in  our  case,"  asserted  Steve. 
"  Thar's  not  a  one  of  us  as  has  blabbed  about  the  gold ; 
and  though  men  has  come  along  and  watched  us  fer  a 
time,  they  aer  gone  away  again  every  time  thinkin'  us 
fools  fer  our  pains  most  likely.  Still,  there  ain't  never 
no  sayin'.  Someone  may  have  been  watchin'  and  spy- 
in'." 

Had  the  little  band  of  friends  but  known  it,  this  was 
a  method  employed  by  a  party  of  rascals  who  had  in- 


Tom  makes  a  Find  299 

Tested  the  goldfields  for  some  little  while.  Separating, 
and  each  dressed  as  a  miner,  the  members  of  this  band 
had  kept  watch  at  the  various  diggings;  and  whenever 
information  had  reached  one  that  a  convoy  of  gold  was 
to  leave  the  particular  place  he  was  observing,  a  message 
brought  together  all  his  comrades,  and  in  many  cases  a 
seizure  of  the  gold  resulted.  One  such  individual  had  for 
the  past  week  lain  at  the  top  of  the  cliff,  keeping  watch 
on  Tom  and  his  comrades ;  and  though  he  had  never  been 
sure  that  they  were  gathering  gold  from  the  dirt  washed 
out  of  the  cliff,  still  their  obvious  cheerfulness,  their  un- 
tiring industry  and  labour,  more  than  half  convinced  him. 
And  at  length  the  preparations  for  Steve's  departure 
carried  conviction  to  his  mind. 

"That's  gold,  sure,  in  them  sacks  they're  putting  on 
the  hosses,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  Time  I  was  movin'." 

He  retreated  from  the  cliff  stealthily,  gained  a  spot 
some  two  miles  away,  where  he  had  secured  his  horse 
beneath  a  tree,  and,  mounting  rapidly,  galloped  off  to 
take  the  news  to  his  comrades. 

"You  kin  never  be  sure,"  repeated  Steve;  "and,  thet 
bein'  the  case,  we'll  march  as  ef  we  was  in  the  enemy's 
country,  as  ef  Injun  varmint  was  skirmishin'  round  us. 
Jack  and  Tom'll  ride  beside  the  hosses,  while  me  and 
Abe'll  scout  about." 

"While  I  suggest  something  likely  to  help,"  cried 
Jack.  "  We've  got  three  horses  with  us,  two  of  which 
carry  the  gold,  while  the  third  has  our  grub  and  blankets 
strapped  to  his  back.  Now,  if  we  change  the  loads, 
and  make  the  grub  and  blankets  look  as  if  they  were 
the  gold,  then,  in  case  of  a  surprise,  we  might  still 
manage  to  beat  any  who  happened  to  attack  us." 


300  Indian  and  Scout 

"  Gee!  That  aer  a  bright  idea!"  cried  Steve.  "  Carrots, 
fer  all  yer  quietness,  you  ha'  got  somethin'  in  yer.  In 
course  we  can  swap  the  things  around,  and  sence  it  don't 
make  no  odds  ef  gold  dust  aer  put  in  bags  or  in  blankets, 
supposin'  we  pack  it  in  the  blankets  and  fill  the  bags 
that  aer  got  the  gold  now  with  grub  and  other  things." 

The  precaution  was  one  which  might  be  useful  in  case 
of  an  attack,  and  in  consequence  a  halt  was  made  and 
the  change  effected.  Then  they  pressed  on,  Jack  and 
Tom  riding  beside  the  loaded  animals,  while  the  horse 
which  from  outward  appearance  carried  their  swags — by 
which  term  miners  generally  understood  their  personal 
belongings  and  food  was  meant — bore  in  fact  the  wealth 
of  gold  gathered  from  the  mine.  Nor  was  it  long  before 
Jack  and  his  friends  had  cause  to  congratulate  them- 
selves on  their  foresight;  tbr  they  were  to  meet  with 
trouble  before  they  completed  their  journey. 


CHAPTER  XX 

An  Ambuscade 

FOUR  days  had  elapsed  since  Jack  and  his  comrades 
had  left  the  mine  before  anything  happened  to  disturb 
the  even  course  of  the  journey.  They  had  marched 
at  a  footpace  all  the  way,  Steve  and  Abe  riding  well 
ahead,  as  a  rule,  though  at  times  they  scouted  out  on 
the  flanks.  Jack  and  Tom,  one  of  the  scouts  who  had 
joined  them  at  the  very  first,  rode  beside  the  horses, 
their  rifles  loaded  and  held  in  readiness.  Then  sud- 
denly, on  the  fourth  day,  just  as  the  light  was  getting 
a  little  uncertain,  and  the  shades  of  evening  were  draw- 
ing in,  Steve  came  galloping  back  to  the  little  convoy, 
and  Abe  after  him. 

"What's  amiss?"  asked  Jack,  for  it  was  a  most  un- 
usual movement  on  the  part  of  the  scout. 

"That's  jest  what  I'm  axin'  myself,"  came  the  curt 
answer.  "  I  happened  to  be  ridin'  way  up  thar  on  the 
spur  of  that  'ere  hill,  when  I  seed  somethin'  down  in 
the  valley  whar  this  road  leads.  The  sun  war  jest  right 
bang  in  my  eyes,  so  I  couldn't  make  head  nor  tail  of  it; 
but  out  here  it's  as  well  ter  be  careful,  and  ef  ye've  gold 
travellin'  along  a  road,  and  see  something  that  aer 
strange,  why,  a  chap  hops  back  ter  the  convoy  quick. 
Do  yer  see  anything,  Abe?" 


302  Indian  and  Scout 

"  Nary  a  thing.  Thar's  a  spur  that  hides  the  road. 
Thar  ain't  no  need  to  be  scared,  even  if  thar's  a  party 
comin'  along;  but  I  'low  as  it  aer  wise  ter  be  careful.  Ef 
folks  want  ter  disturb  us,  they'll  see  as  we're  ready,  and 
thet  goes  a  long  way  when  thar's  villains  about." 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  later  the  little  convoy  rounded 
the  spur  of  the  hill  which  shut  out  the  view  of  the  road 
ahead  of  them.  By  now  they  were  riding  in  close  order, 
Abe  and  Steve  watching  the  hills  on  either  side  with 
lynx-like  eyes,  for  the  road  ran  through  a  somewhat 
narrow  defile,  and  if  an  enemy  were  hidden  amongst 
the  rocks  he  would  be  so  near  that  his  bullets  would 
reach  the  convoy  while  a  rush  would  have  been  possible. 

"  Jest  one  of  them  ugly  places,"  growled  Steve,  casting 
his  eyes  restlessly  from  side  to  side.  "Jest  the  sort  of 
plant  that'd  be  fixed  on  by  a  set  of  ruffians  ef  they 
wanted  ter  hold  up  a  convoy.  Now,  I  tell  yer  all,  ef 
thar's  a  shot  fired,  don't  wait  to  reply  ter  it.  Jest  put 
yer  spurs  in  hard,  and  ride.  Waitin'll  jest  play  into  the 
hands  of  the  varmint.  Mind,  I  don't  suggest  as  thar's 
ter  be  trouble,  but  somehow  or  other  I've  got  a  kinder 
feelin'  as  we're  up  agin  somethin'.  Why,  ef  thar  ain't 
a  cart  'way  ahead!" 

The  road  in  advance  was  now  visible,  and  some  four 
hundred  yards  ahead  a  solitary  cart  was  to  be  seen,  a 
four-wheeled  affair,  which,  from  the  cant  it  had  to  one 
side,  had  evidently  met  with  some  disaster.  Beside  it 
lounged  a  figure,  above  whose  head  hung  a  blue  cloud 
of  smoke,  indicating  that  he  was  taking  his  ease,  and 
was  puffing  at  his  pipe. 

"  And  nary  a  hoss  in  sight,"  exclaimed  Steeve.  "  Wall, 
that  aer  ter  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  his  chums  has 


An  Ambuscade  303 

gone  ahead  ter  fetch  help.  Boys,  I  'low  as  thar  ain't 
anythin'  here  ter  scare  us;  but  jest  you  bear  in  mind 
what  I've  said  already.  Thar  ain't  never  no  trusting 
no  one  when  ye've  gold  about.  Ef  ye're  axed  the 
question,  jest  answer  that  we're  bound  fer  the  settle- 
ments ter  fill  up  with  pork  and  flour  and  sichlike. 
Wall,  stranger,  what's  amiss?"  he  asked  bluntly,  as  the 
cavalcade  came  level  with  the  stranded  cart.  "  I  see  as 
ye've  smashed  a  wheel." 

"That's  so.  And  a  big  nuisance  it  aer,"  came  the 
answer,  while  the  figure  they  had  seen  lounging  beside 
the  wagon  rose  nonchalantly  to  his  feet,  pulled  the  pipe 
from  his  mouth,  and  strolled  towards  them.  The  man 
was  tall,  wiry,  and  sunburned  to  the  last  degree.  A 
ragged  and  unkempt  beard  almost  entirely  hid  his 
features,  while  his  clothing  was  far  from  new,  and 
seemed  to  indicate  that  he  had  been  travelling  for  a 
considerable  period. 

"Jest  a  big  nuisance,"  he  repeated,  placing  his  pipe 
back  between  his  lips  so  as  to  indulge  in  another  draw. 
"  And  I  don't  mind  tellin'  yer  why,"  he  went  on,  glanc- 
ing first  at  Steve,  then  at  Abe,  and  afterwards  at  Jack 
and  Tom  in  turn.  Indeed,  a  pair  of  sharp  eyes,  almost 
hidden  beneath  bushy  brows,  seemed  to  take  in  parti- 
culars of  the  party  within  a  second,  while  Jack  caught 
the  stranger's  glances  directed  upon  the  horses  and  their 
loads.  "  I'll  tell  yer  why,"  he  proceeded,  "  and  I  see  as 
thar  ain't  no  harm  in  doin'  so.  It  ain't  every  sort  of 
man  travellin'  in  this  country  that  a  chap  can  give  his 
confidence  to ;  but  with  you,  gentlemen,  one  kin  see  as 
things  aer  safe.  That  'ere  cart  aer  stuffed  nigh  full  with 
gold.  Yer  wouldn't  think  it,  now,  would  yer?  'Cos,  as 


304  Indian  and  Scout 

a  gineral  rule,  gold  aer  sent  on  hossback,  same  as  ye're 
doin'.  This  lot  is  piled  into  the  cart  so  as  to  blind  any 
of  them  light-fingered  gents  as  sometimes  takes  to  the 
road.  Cartin'  aer  my  business,  and  I  don't  object  to 
sich  a  valuable  cargo  so  long  as  I  ain't  delayed;  but  I 
'low  that  this  here  broken  wheel  has  made  me  a  trifle 
fidgety.  My  mates  has  taken  the  hosses  on  to  the 
nearest  settlement  to  buy  up  a  new  wheel,  and,  ef  it 
ain't  axin  too  much,  I'd  be  obleeged  if  yer  could  stand 
by  me  till  they  come  back  agin.  It  aer  too  late  fer 
you  to  ride  on  far,  for  the  light  aer  nearly  gone.  And 
this  here  spot  aer  pretty  pleasant." 

Jack  stared  hard  at  the  man,  and,  though  his  mind 
was  full  of  suspicions,  considering  Steve's  warnings,  he 
was  bound  to  admit  that  the  tale  was  a  plausible  one; 
that,  despite  the  roughness  of  this  stranger's  appear- 
ance, he  seemed  honest,  perfectly  frank,  and  at  his  ease. 
Then,  too,  the  admission  he  had  made  that  his  cart 
contained  gold  was  sufficient  of  itself  to  disarm  all 
thought  of  treachery.  The  man  was  in  a  quandary, 
and  in  those  rough  days  in  California,  despite  the 
scoundrels  to  be  found  in  every  part,  there  were  still, 
amongst  the  hundred -thousand  and  more  of  miners, 
huge  numbers  who  showed  the  utmost  kindness  to  one 
another.  Indeed,  the  rough,  blunt-spoken  miner  was 
always  ready  to  dip  his  hand  into  his  pocket  when  a 
subscription  was  required  for  a  sick  comrade,  for  a 
widow,  or  for  some  other  urgent  cause.  Jack  was 
therefore  not  surprised  when  Steve  slipped  from  his 
saddle  and  gripped  the  stranger's  hand. 

"Ef  that's  the  case,  why,  in  course,  we'll  help,"  he 
sang  out  cheerily.  "It  ain't  hard  ter  see  as  ye're  in  a 


An  Ambuscade  305 

fix,  and  sence  it  aer  always  a  case  out  here  of  one  man 
helpin'  another,  why,  here  we  stay  till  your  pards  return. 
But  I  'low  as  it  ain't  the  sort  of  camp  I  should  ha' 
chosen.  Them  hills  is  too  near  fer  my  likin'.  How  long 
is  it  sence  your  chums  left  fer  the  settlement?" 

"Six  or  seven  hours,  I  reckon.  As  thar  ain't  nothin'  ter 
detain  them,  they  ought  to  be  back  right  here  in  another 
four;  but  thar  ain't  never  no  sayin'.  Them  boys  ain't 
seen  a  settlement  fer  the  last  three  months,  and  it  stands 
to  reason  that  they'll  be  tempted  ter  put  in  a  time  in  one 
or  more  of  the  saloons.  But  they  won't  forget.  Thar's 
this  here  gold  ter  remind  'em.  Reckon  they'll  fetch 
back  here  somewhere  about  the  early  mornin'.  Got 
much  dust  yerself?" 

The  ragged  individual  jerked  his  head  towards  the 
horses  which  Tom  and  Jack  were  unloading  at  that 
moment.  Remembering  Steve's  caution,  they  took  the 
swags  from  the  one  horse  and  tossed  them  carelessly 
into  a  heap,  as  if  the  blankets  contained  nothing  of 
value,  while  the  bags  which  had  hitherto  contained 
gold,  and  which  were  now  crammed  with  food,  with 
spare  shirts  and  socks,  and  other  articles,  were  taken 
from  the  horses  with  great  care  and  stacked  in  a  heap 
aside.  Nor  did  the  stranger  fail  to  notice  the  removal. 

"  Got  much  over  thar?"  he  asked  casually. 

"  A  tidy  bit.  Nothin'  onusual,"  answered  Steve  warily, 
for  this  experienced  little  scout  was  always  cautious. 
Jack  had  learned  long  since  that  it  took  time  to  break 
through  the  ice  with  which  Steve  surrounded  himself, 
and  that,  for  some  reason  or  other,  it  was  a  long  while 
before  he  gave  his  confidences  to  anybody. 

"A  tidy  bit,"  he  repeated  in  a  confidential  whisper. 
(0179)  20 


306  Indian  and  Scout 

"Jack,"  he  sang  out,  "jest  pile  them  bags  a  little  closer 
together,  so  as  we  kin  see  'em.  We  should  be  in  a 
proper  hole  ef  we  was  to  lose  that  stuff.  And  what 
sort  of  a  load  have  yer  got,  mate?"  he  asked  in  his  turn, 
facing  the  stranger  just  as  casually  as  the  latter  had 
done,  and  commencing  to  fill  his  pipe. 

"  Jest  about  double  that  lot.     Look  than" 

The  tall,  ungainly  figure  of  the  man  was  elevated 
from  the  boulder  on  which  he  had  been  seated,  and, 
strolling  towards  the  cart,  he  pulled  the  back  boards 
down,  disclosing  a  pile  of  bags  within. 

"  Ef  you  and  me  and  your  pals  here  was  ter  divide, 
reckon  we  wouldn't  want  ter  work  after  this,"  he  said 
with  a  grin.  "  But  duty  aer  duty.  That  'ere  stuff  aer 
in  my  charge,  and  I  see  as  you  aer  gentlemen." 

"You  kin  put  it  like  that,"  smiled  Steve.  "Now, 
seems  to  me,  as  your  pals  is  due  almost  any  time,  it 
ain't  no  use  fer  us  to  unpack  the  swags.  Perhaps  you've 
got  a  bit  of  food  ter  spare,  and  a  glass  and  a  bottle?" 

The  cautious  Steve  wished  to  avoid  unpacking  his 
own  store,  for  the  very  obvious  reason  that  the  food  was 
packed  within  the  bags  which  appeared  to  contain  gold. 
And,  for  the  very  same  reason,  Jack  and  Tom,  once  they 
had  removed  their  belongings  from  the  horses,  had  made 
no  effort  to  disturb  them. 

"  Why,  sure,"  came  the  hearty  answer,  "  I'm  jest 
obleeged  to  you  fer  standin'  by  me,  and  it  so  happens 
as  I've  a  fine  store,  and  good  things  with  it." 

There  was  a  bustle  in  the  little  camp  for  the  next 
hour,  for  the  stranger  threw  wood  on  the  fire  and  soon 
had  it  blazing  merrily,  while  within  a  short  while  a 
savoury  steam  arising  from  the  kettle  suspended  over 


An  Ambuscade  307 

it  tickled  the  palates  of  the  travellers.  Then  reared  up 
on  a  couple  of  low  boulders  placed  directly  against  the 
flames  were  a  couple  of  ramrods,  and  on  these  sizzled 
two  enormous  buffalo  steaks,  toasting  nicely  in  the  heat, 
and  now  and  again  sending  the  flames  leaping  skyward 
as  they  dripped  grease  into  the  fire. 

"It  does  a  man  good  ter  smell  that,"  cried  Steve, 
glancing  towards  the  fire,  "  and  in  ten  minutes  or  less 
reckon  things'll  be  ready.  Say,  stranger,  whar  do  yer 
fetch  the  water  from?  I  jest  think  I'll  take  a  wash  afore 
I  sit  down." 

"  Over  thar."  The  man  pointed  to  a  spot  some  forty 
yards  away,  now  almost  hidden  in  the  darkness. 

"  Then,  ef  you're  comin',  Jack,  why  come  along." 

Steve  strolled  off  into  the  gloom,  followed  by  our  hero, 
for  he  seemed  to  gather  from  some  subtle  note  in  Steve's 
voice  that  the  hunter  desired  him  to  do  so.  They  walked 
side  by  side  to  the  stream,  Steve  whistling  loudly  and 
cheerily.  Then  the  little  man  kneeled  and  splashed 
water  over  his  face. 

"  Kin  yer  see  the  fire?"  he  asked  in  a  low  voice.  "And 
that  'ere  scaramouch  beside  it?" 

Jack,  answered  again  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Wall,  now,  jest  you  listen  ter  me.  Jack,  this  thing 
ain't  as  right  as  it  seems.  Reckon  thar's  something 
queer  about  that  feller  down  thar,  and  I've  more  than 
a  notion  that  ef  we  was  ter  ax  him  ter  'low  us  ter  look 
into  his  bags,  it's  not  gold  they  aer  holding.  Savvy?" 

To  be  perfectly  frank,  Jack  was  astonished.  To  his 
unsuspicious  mind  everything  about  the  stranger  down 
below  seemed  to  be  open  and  above-board.  His  non- 
chalance and  apparent  frankness  had  impressed  our 


3o8  Indian  and  Scout 

hero,  while  the  open  display  of  the  gold  bags,  the  broken 
wheel,  and  the  whole  tale  seemed  so  very  likely  and  real 
that  he  could  find  no  room  for  doubt.  But  Jack  was  as 
yet,  with  all  his  harsh  misfortune  with  regard  to  the 
robbery,  but  a  child  in  experience,  while  Steve  was  a 
man  who  had  been  in  every  part  of  America,  who  had 
doubtless  encountered  many  a  rogue,  and  whose  outlook 
on  life  was  broader  by  a  great  deal,  and  far  more  acute 
than  was  our  hero's. 

"Yer  don't.  You've  took  that  man  fer  a  white  man, 
one  as  is  in  distress,"  grinned  Steve,  laughing  almost 
inaudibly.  "  Wall,  when  I  was  about  your  age  I'd  have 
done  the  same,  and  taken  my  davy  as  he  war  honest. 
And  mind  yer,  I  don't  say  now  right  off  that  he's  a 
scamp.  I  ain't  dead  sartin,  but  I'm  sure  enough  ter  jest 
give  you  the  wink,  and  to  tell  you  ter  pass  it  on  to  the 
others,  though  I  expect  as  Abe  ha'  got  hold  of  the  same 
notion  as  me." 

"But  why?  What  is  wrong?"  asked  Jack,  somewhat 
bewildered,  for  even  now  he  could  distinguish  nothing 
wrong,  no  false  line  in  the  tale  told  by  the  stranger. 

"Why!  Wall,  look  you  here.  It  wouldn't  do  ter  ax 
him  to  'low  us  to  see  his  gold,  'cos  then,  ef  he's  square 
and  above-board,  he'd  get  ter  suspecting  us.  And  ef  he 
ain't,  as  seems  nearly  sartin,  why,  it  stands  to  reason 
that  he  wants  ter  take  us  by  surprise  when  his  mates 
comes  along.  That  bein'  so,  we  wants  to  have  a  surprise 
fer  them  tucked  up  our  sleeves.  How  do  I  see  anythin' 
wrong?  Wall,  look  at  the  springs  of  that  'ere  wagon. 
They  ain't  down  by  near  as  much  as  they  would  be  ef 
them  bags  was  filled  with  gold.  They're  chuck-full, 
thar  ain't  a  doubt,  but  the  stuff  in  'em  ain't  gold,  or  else 


An  Ambuscade  309 

the  weight  would  be  so  big  it  would  sink  the  springs, 
and  bring  the  frame  of  the  cart  down  on  to  the  axles. 
Then,  look  at  the  broken  wheel.  Thar  ain't  a  rut  here- 
abouts ter  break  it.  Thar  ain't  weight  in  the  cart  suffi- 
cient ter  account  fer  a  smash,  so  one  has  ter  take  it  that 
it  was  done  of  purpose.  Savvy?" 

Jack  did.  Now  that  the  matter  was  put  so  concisely 
and  clearly  before  him  he  could  see  that  there  was  a 
bad  smudge  across  the  story  told  by  this  stranger.  His 
coolness  and  apparent  honesty  would  have  passed  his 
tale  with  the  ordinary  miner,  for  often  enough  he  came 
from  the  settlements.  But  with  a  scout  it  was  a  dif- 
ferent matter.  Steve  had  not  lived  his  life  for  nothing. 
The  habit  of  close  inspection,  of  constant  care  to  guard 
against  danger  and  the  ambushes  of  the  enemy,  had 
made  him  discover  a  flaw  in  what  appeared  to  be  a 
straightforward  matter. 

"Then  you  think  we  are  to  be  attacked?"  asked  Jack, 
his  heart  beating  a  little  faster. 

"  I'm  nigh  dead  sartin.  That's  why  I  brought  you  off 
here.  Ye've  got  ter  act  up  to  that  man.  Pretend  yer 
ain't  smelt  a  rat,  and  let  him  think  ye're  as  soft  as  may 
be.  But  keep  yer  eyes  open,  and  yer  fist  mighty  near 
yer  shooter.  Tell  Tom  the  same,  and  be  ready." 

A  few  minutes  later  they  sauntered  back  to  the 
camp,  where  the  stranger  announced  that  supper  was 
ready. 

"  Hot  soup  and  a  cut  from  them  steaks  won't  do  none 
of  us  any  harm!"  he  cried  pleasantly.  "By  the  time 
we've  had  a  smoke  it'll  be  time  ter  turn  in.  Reckon  my 
mates  aer  likely  ter  stay  a  bit,  and  ought  ter  be  hefe 
about  mornin'." 


310  Indian  and  Scout 

They  seated  themselves  about  the  fire,  and  were  soon 
engaged  in  eating  as  good  a  meal  as  Jack  had  seen  for 
many  a  long  day;  for  at  the  mine  they  were,  as  a  rule, 
too  busy  to  leave  the  place  to  seek  for  fresh  meat.  They 
subsisted  for  the  most  part  on  corned  beef  and  on  salted 
food.  Then  pipes  were  produced,  and  for  an  hour  the 
party  chatted. 

"  My  name's  Ted,"  announced  the  stranger,  "  and  I 
'low  as  you  have  treated  me  handsome.  Now,  sence 
I've  had  a  rest  here,  and  ye've  been  on  the  road  all 
day,  I'm  willin'  ter  take  the  watch  to-night,  fer,  in  course, 
someone  must  see  that  things  aer  right.  Ef  you  don't 
like  that  suggestion,  why  we'll  draw  lots." 

"  Wall,  I'm  about  dead  beat,"  sang  out  Steve  promptly, 
beginning  to  yawn  loudly.  "Fact  is,  me  and  my 
mates  here  has  been  hard  at  it  at  the  mines  for  a  long 
while,  and  then  we've  been  coming  along  steadily.  Ef 
ye're  willing  ter  take  the  watch  first,  I'll  turn  in,  and 
yer  kin  be  relieved  after  midnight.  Then  I'll  come  on, 
and  Abe  here'll  take  it  till  the  light  comes." 

The  firelight  flickering  on  the  face  of  the  stranger 
showed  no  sign  there  of  annoyance.  It  was  the  same 
to  him  whether  he  took  the  night  or  the  morning  watch; 
and  for  the  life  of  him  Jack  could  not  help  but  think 
that  Steve  was  mistaken  in  his  suspicions. 

"  The  man  seems  absolutely  honest,"  he  said  to  him- 
self, "but  still  there  is  something  in  what  Steve  says. 
If  that  cart  were  really  loaded  with  bags  of  gold,  the 
springs  would  certainly  be  down.  As  it  is,  the  load 
might  consist  of  feathers.  Yes,  it  will  be  as  well  to  keep 
a  sharp  eye  open." 

Borrowing  the  blankets  of  the  men  who,  Ted,  the 


An  Ambuscade  311 

stranger,  said,  had  left  with  the  horses  to  obtain  a  spare 
wheel,  Steve  and  his  friends  threw  themselves  down  on 
the  ground  near  their  own  belongings.  Near  at  hand 
their  horses  were  picketed  to  pegs  driven  deeply  into 
the  earth,  while  their  own  heads  reclined  on  the  blankets 
which  contained  their  store  of  gold.  The  bags  full  of 
their  other  belongings  lay  at  a  little  distance,  and  the 
firelight  playing  upon  them  showed  that  they  were 
secure.  But  it  did  not  show  the  eyes  of  the  stranger, 
nor  the  fact  that  that  individual  had  fixed  them  upon 
the  bags  greedily. 

"  Listen  here,  mates,"  whispered  Steve,  as  he  lay  down, 
having  first  heard  the  man  Ted  stroll  a  little  from  the 
camp.  "Jack  aer  probably  told  yer  that  things  don't 
look  square,  Wall,  I'll  take  a  sleep  now,  and  Jack  kin 
watch.  Tom'll  follow  with  a  spell,  then  Abe,  and  finally 
I'll  take  a  turn.  That'll  bring  us  ter  the  mornin'.  It's 
then  that  the  trouble'll  come.  And,  boys,  ef  thar's  a 
rush,  yer  kin  leave  our  loads  to  theirselves.  This  chap 
Ted  has  had  his  eyes  on  the  bags,  and  don't  cotton  that 
there's  been  a  bit  of  a  change.  Them  bags  of  ours  aer 
heavy  enough  to  mislead  'em,  and  ef  they  rush,  why, 
they're  welcome  to  the  swags.  Good  night!" 

He  rolled  over  on  his  side,  tucked  the  blanket  well 
around  him,  and  was  fast  asleep  in  less  than  five 
minutes.  Long  habit  had  inured  the  scout  to  thoughts 
of  danger.  He  could  sleep  as  well  and  as  soundly, 
knowing  that  blows  would  be  struck  on  the  morrow, 
as  he  could  when  no  danger  was  to  be  apprehended, 
provided  always  that  he  was  sure  that  he  had  friends 
to  aid  him,  who  would  remain  watchful  whilst  he  slept. 
And  by  now  Steve  was  assured  of  that.  The  long  trip 


312  Indian  and   Scout 

over  the  plains  had  proved  the  reliability  of  Abe  and 
Tom  and  Jack. 

Then  the  deep  breathing  of  Abe  and  Tom  told  that 
they  too  had  fallen  into  a  peaceful  slumber,  leaving 
Jack  to  guard  them.  Our  hero  lay  with  his  face  on 
his  hand,  his  head  propped  up  a  little,  and  his  eyes 
only  half-opened,  for  the  reflection  of  the  fire  might 
have  been  seen  in  them  had  Ted  happened  to  look 
his  way.  He  heard  the  steps  of  the  solitary  sentry 
now  and  again,  and  watched  him  as  he  strolled  round 
the  stranded  cart.  Occasionally  he  approached  the  fire, 
and,  lifting  a  smouldering  stick,  lit  his  pipe  with  it. 
It  was  two  hours  later  before  he  ventured  farther. 
Listening  intently,  he  slid  across  the  ground  which 
intervened  between  the  cart  and  Jack  and  his  friends, 
bent  over  them  for  some  few  seconds,  and  then  walked 
to  the  heap  of  sacks.  Jack  watched  him  stealthily  as 
he  inspected  the  piled-up  bags,  and  then  turned  his 
head  to  follow  his  further  movements  as  he  retreated 
once  more  to  the  cart.  Then  Ted  did  a  curious  thing. 
Jack  saw  him  fumbling  with  something  for  the  space 
of  a  few  seconds,  he  stepped  towards  the  smouldering 
embers,  and  the  flickering  light  showed  that  his  arm 
was  suspended  over  the  heat.  It  seemed  as  if  he  were 
warming  his  fingers.  But  no.  An  instant  later  a  tongue 
of  brilliant  flame  shot  up  into  the  darkness,  and  as  sud- 
denly melted  into  smoke. 

"  A  signal,  without  doubt,"  thought  Jack.     "  Ah !" 

From  somewhere  in  the  distance  a  faint  echo  came 

to  his  ear — a  faint,  eerie  whistle.     The  signal  had  been 

answered.     There  was  no  longer  room  for  doubt  that 

this  Ted  was  acting  a  part,  that  the  broken-down  cart 


An   Ambuscade  313 

was  merely  an  adjunct  to  a  plot  destined,  if  he  and  his 
friends  were  not  very  careful,  to  wipe  them  out  of  exist- 
ence, and  take  from  them  all  their  hardly  won  gold. 

"  Gee,"  exclaimed  Jack  to  himself,  "  if  that  isn't  some- 
thing! Time  I  woke  Steve  and  the  others.  Time  we 
made  some  sort  of  an  arrangement  to  meet  the  danger." 


CHAPTER   XXI 

The  Outwitting  of  Tusker 

"  LIE  low,  whatever  yer  do !  Now  let's  have  the  yarn," 
whispered  Steve  as  Jack  awoke  him  with  a  gentle  dig 
in  the  ribs.  "What  aer  it  all  about?  Yer  seem  a  bit 
excited." 

Our  hero  was,  indeed,  somewhat  disturbed  by  what 
had  so  recently  happened,  but  not  frightened.  To  do 
him  but  justice,  Jack  had  passed  through  such  dangers 
already  that  his  nerves  were  hardened,  and  his  courage 
had  been  tried.  However  the  thought  of  what  was  before 
them,  the  cunning  of  this  man  Ted,  served  to  thrill  him 
more  than  was  usual,  to  stir  his  pulses.  So  it  was  in 
a  quiet  and  steady  whisper  that  he  imparted  his  news  to 
the  hunter. 

"Jest  as  I  thought,"  answered  Steve  when  he  had 
finished.  "  I  kinder  reckoned  we'd  got  into  a  nest  of 
scorpions.  This  here  feller  was  too  free  and  easy,  when 
he  oughter  have  been  kind  of  stand-offish,  considering 
the  gold  he's  supposed  ter  have,  and  that  we  aer  four  ter 
his  one.  Jest  kick  Tom  and  Abe  gently." 

"What'll  yer  do?"  asked  the  former  hoarsely,  when 
Jack  had  roused  him,  stretching  his  neck  so  as  to  place 
his  mouth  close  to  Steve's  ear.  "Seems  to  me  as  we 

314 


The  Outwitting  of  Tusker      315 

might  easily  walk  right  away  now.  Thar's  only  this 
man  Ted  to  stop  us,  and  reckon  we  could  soon  fix 
him." 

"Ef  he  was  alone,  which  he  ain't,"  came  cautiously 
from  Steve.  "  Thar  ain't  a  doubt  but  what  we're 
cornered.  The  men  who  aer  in  with  this  man  here  are 
'way  up  there  on  the  hillside.  Likely  enough  they've 
been  thar  ever  since  we  reached  the  spot,  and  aer  jest 
waitin'  fer  the  time  ter  attack  us." 

"  But,"  argued  Abe,  "  ef  that's  the  case,  why  have  they 
waited?  The  risk  fer  them'll  be  the  same  now  as  earlier 
in  the  evening,  or,  fer  the  matter  of  that,  the  same  as  it'll 
be  when  the  light  comes." 

"With  jest  this  difference,"  urged  Steve,  still  in  the 
same  cautious  whisper,  "last  evenin'  they  might  have 
been  disturbed,  for  this  road  has  a  goodish  number  of 
travellers  on  it.  In  the  early  dawn  thar  ain't  likely  to 
be  anyone,  so  they'll  be  able  ter  make  their  attack  and 
get  away  without  a  soul  save  us  seeing  them.  And  they 
reckon  ter  wipe  the  hull  crowd  of  us  out,  so  as  dead  men'll 
tell  no  tales.  Gee,  this  aer  a  fix ! " 

There  was  silence  for  some  little  while,  as  each  one 
of  the  party  considered  the  matter.  As  they  lay  there, 
with  wide-open  eyes,  though  they  took  care  to  make  no 
movement,  they  could  see  the  bright  gleam  from  Ted's 
pipe  every  now  and  again,  as  that  worthy  leaned  against 
the  side  of  the  cart.  That  he  had  friends  near  at  hand 
was  certain,  since  Jack  had  heard  that  whistle,  and  it 
was  equally  sure  that  while  Ted  remained  awake  any 
attempt  on  their  part  to  steal  away  from  the  camp  would 
immediately  be  detected,  and  the  aid  of  those  comrades 
called  in. 


316  Indian  and  Scout 

"  It  aer  clear  that  we're  in  a  hole,  and  has  ter  fight  it 
out  with  them  critters,"  said  Steve  at  last  after  a  long 
silence ;  "  and,  sence  that's  the  case,  the  thing  aer  ter  fix 
up  some  way  in  which  ter  meet  'em.  Thar'll  be  eight 
or  nine  of  the  varmint.  These  bands  always  run  ter  that 
number,  'cos  then  they  aer  able  ter  break  up  opposition, 
and,  'sides,  it  keeps  people  from  following.  Folks  get 
ter  know  that  it  aer  useless  to  go  after  these  bands  of 
robbers  onless  there's  plenty  of  boys  ter  help ;  and  sence 
men  aer  mostly  busy  at  the  diggin's,  why,  it  follows  that 
it  aer  generally  hard  ter  get  the  right  number.  It's  only 
when  a  band  becomes  that  bad,  and  has  murdered  a  hull 
heap  of  miners  and  carters,  that  the  sheriff  can  get  a 
strong  enough  force  together,  and  by  then  fellers  like 
this  has  managed  ter  divide  up  the  plunder  and  ter  ride 
ter  some  other  part  of  the  fields.  This  aer  a  tarnation 
fix." 

"  Supposing,"  suggested  Jack,  "  we  were  to " 

He  came  to  a  sudden  halt,  for  Ted  had  turned  to 
look  at  the  supposed  sleepers,  as  if  he  had  detected  a 
noise. 

"Yer  was  supposing"  whispered  Abe  hoarsely, 
some  minutes  later,  when  the  stranger  turned  away 
again. 

"Jest  let's  have  it,  Carrots,"  added  Steve.  "Ye've 
took  me  through  a  fix  before  now.  You  aer  bright 
enough  ter  find  a  way  out  of  this." 

"  Not  out  of  it.  I  can  suggest  a  way  in  which  we  can 
get  cover  and  best  the  men  when  they  come,"  answered 
Jack.  "  There's  the  cart." 

"Ay,  thar's  the  cart,"  came  from  Steve  wonderingly, 
for  he  could  see  nothing  useful  there. 


The  Outwitting  of  Tusker      317 

"Wall?"  demanded  Abe. 

"  Ye've  forgot  that  it's  bung  full  of  sacks,"  whispered 
Tom,  and,  besides,  one  wheel's  broken." 

"  He  ain't  forgot  nothin',"  said  Steve  sharply.  "  Car- 
rots don't  make  mistakes  like  that.  Out  with  it, 
youngster." 

"  There  is  the  cart,"  repeated  Jack.  "  The  sacks  in  it 
are  likely  enough  rilled  with  grass,  considering  how  light 
they  evidently  are.  As  for  the  wheel,  it  is  an  advantage 
that  it  happens  to  be  broken.  I  thought  we  would  wait 
till  we  are  about  to  be  attacked.  Or,  better  still,  seeing 
that  the  attack  is  bound  to  come,  I  propose  that  we  wait 
only  till  the  light  gets  stronger.  Then  we'll  make  for 
the  cart,  while  the  man  there  will  take  to  his  heels.  His 
shouts  will  bring  the  others  down  upon  us  at  a  run, 
but  that  will  be  better  than  having  them  ride  up  openly, 
as  if  returning  from  the  settlements  with  a  new  wheel. 
That,  of  course,  is  their  game.  They  think  we  shall 
have  swallowed  their  story,  and  that  all  they  have 
to  do  now  is  to  ride  into  the  camp  and  shoot  us  down 
easily." 

"  Put  in  a  nutshell.  That  'ere  Carrots  has  his  haar  on 
right  enough,"  growled  Steve. 

"  Wall,  thar's  the  cart,"  reminded  Tom. 

"  We  make  use  of  it  much  as  we  did  of  the  other  when 
the  Indians  attacked  us.  The  bags  will  form  good  pro- 
tection, while  the  cart  is  within  nice  range  of  our  gold. 
If  we  four  can't  manage  then  to " 

A  low  chuckle  burst  from  Steve,  while  Jack  felt  Abe's 
strong  fingers  close  firmly  round  his  wrist. 

"  H-h-h-hush !  That  critter's  lookin'.  Ef  he  so  much 
as  moves  a  toe  I'll  put  lead  into  him," 


3i8  Indian  and  Scout 

It  was  Tom's  excited  whisper,  while  that  individual 
went  rigid  to  his  finger  tips,  as  the  man  who  watched  by 
the  cart  turned  and  stared  at  the  sleepers.  Jack  felt  the 
scout's  arm  steal  stealthily  over  him,  and  heard  the 
gentle  click  of  his  firelock,  as  his  strong  thumb  drew  it 
back  into  cocking  position.  And  there  the  arm  rested, 
while  all  four  lay  as  if  dead,  as  if  turned  to  stone,  motion- 
less, almost  without  breathing. 

But  whatever  suspicions  Ted  may  have  had,  he  quickly 
became  reassured ;  for,  to  speak  the  truth,  Steve  and  his 
friends  had  played  their  parts  admirably.  Though 
warned  from  the  first  of  Steve's  suspicions,  they  had 
treated  the  stranger  with  frankness  equal  to  his  own, 
and  had  entirely  disarmed  his  suspicions.  He  imagined 
that  the  party  of  four  for  whom  the  trap  had  been  set  so 
craftily  had  been  entirely  taken  in,  and  that  they  would 
fall  an  easy  prey.  He  turned  away  from  the  sleepers, 
and,  no  doubt  in  accordance  with  a  prearranged  plan, 
once  more  strolled  to  the  embers,  dropped  some  powder 
into  them,  and  sent  his  signal  flashing  into  the  sky. 
Then,  for  the  second  time,  from  a  closer  point  it  seemed 
on  this  occasion,  a  distant  whistle  echoed  along  the 
road. 

"The  critters!"  Jack  heard  the  little  scout  exclaim. 
"  Wall,  mates,  it'll  be  light  in  two  hours  or  less,  so  we 
shan't  have  long  to  wait ;  and  sence  that  skunk  thar  ain't 
axed  ter  be  relieved  yet,  why,  we'll  let  him  stay  on 
watch.  Time  enough  to  clear  him  out  when  the  mornin1 
light  comes." 

To  the  little  scout  those  two  hours  may  have  passed 
easily  enough,  for  his  sangfroid  was  wonderful,  and  his 
accustomed  coolness  not  easily  to  be  disturbed,  Abe 


The  Outwitting  of  Tusker      319 

seemed  to  find  comfort  in  a  cube  of  strong  and  par- 
ticularly evil-smelling  tobacco,  which  he  thrust  between 
his  strong  brown  teeth  and  chewed  slowly,  and  with 
evident  relish.  As  for  Tom,  he  was  one  of  that  large 
band  of  Anglo-Saxons  to  whom  fighting  comes  naturally, 
to  whom  the  crack  of  weapons  and  the  hiss  of  bullets  is 
better  music  than  even  the  latest  instrument  can  supply. 
He  lay  awake  longing  for  the  hour  for  movement,  his 
lynx-like  eyes  fixed  on  the  watcher  by  the  wagon.  But 
Jack,  despite  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  was  neither 
elated  nor  expectant.  He  was  just  an  ordinary  young 
fellow,  subject  to  the  common  weaknesses  of  mankind. 
And  like  them,  too,  he  was  possessed  of  the  same  needs. 
He  had  been  keeping  watch  for  long  now,  and,  finding 
others  to  help  him,  soon  began  to  drowse.  His  eyes 
closed,  his  head  dropped  back  on  his  hand,  and  in  a 
little  while  he  was  fast  asleep.  Thus  he  remained  for 
more  than  two  hours,  till  the  light  in  the  eastern  sky  was 
already  sweeping  the  gloom  and  darkness  from  the  land, 
and  until  the  road  in  front  and  behind  the  little  camp 
was  commencing  to  become  visible.  It  was  a  sharp 
kick  from  Steve  and  an  exclamation  from  Tom  which 
aroused  him.  He  sprang  to  his  feet  a  few  seconds  after 
the  others,  and  at  once  became  conscious  of  the  fact  that 
horses  were  approaching  at  a  gallop. 

"To  the  cart,  boys!"  shouted  Steve,  leading  the  way. 
"That  ere  skunk  slipped  away  so  sudden  that  I  didn't 
notice,  and  ef  it  hadn't  been  fer  Abe  hearin'  the  bosses, 
we  might  be  lying  thar  still.  In  we  go." 

There  was  little  time  for  preparation,  for  Ted,  the 
rascal  who  had  told  his  crafty  story,  had  stolen  a 
march  on  the  watchers.  They  had  seen  him  leaning 


320  Indian  and  Scout 

against  the  cart  as  if  half-asleep.  Then  he  had  sauntered 
to  and  fro,  as  if  becoming  weary  of  his  vigil.  At  last 
the  cunning  rascal  had  stepped  behind  the  cart,  and, 
once  out  of  sight,  had  stolen  off  along  the  grass  track  at 
the  side  of  the  road.  Within  five  minutes,  before  Steve 
or  Abe  had  guessed  that  the  man  was  gone,  the  rat-a-tat- 
tat  of  galloping  hoofs  had  come  to  their  ears. 

"  Pile  the  bags  up  on  all  sides.  Don't  pitch  them  out," 
commanded  Steve  quickly,  his  voice  hardly  raised  above 
a  whisper.  "Quick,  boys,  fer  we  ain't  got  too  much 
time.  Now,  git  down  and  stay  thar  till  they're  right  in 
the  camp.  Then,  I  guess,  we'll  be  doin'  some  talkin'. 
Jack,  that  ere  red  nob  of  yours'll  be  spotted  precious 
quick.  Jest  keep  down  below  the  bags." 

Quick  as  a  flash  the  four  leaped  into  the  stranded 
cart,  to  find  that  it  was  by  no  means  filled  full  with  bags 
as  it  appeared  to  be.  They  were  piled  at  the  back  and 
round  the  two  sides,  and,  as  Jack  had  guessed,  were 
stuffed  with  grass.  It  wanted,  therefore,  very  little  work 
on  the  part  of  the  little  band  of  four  to  erect  their  de- 
fences. Indeed,  the  task  was  already  done  for  them. 
Promptly  they  dropped  to  the  floor  of  the  wagon,  while 
within  a  few  seconds  ten  mounted  men  burst  from  the 
misty  cloud  which  still  clung  to  the  earth  and  enveloped 
the  surroundings  of  the  wagon,  and  galloped  down  upon 
it  like  a  whirlwind.  A  minute  later  they  drew  rein 
where  Steve  and  his  friends  had  been  sleeping,  while  ex- 
clamations of  amazement,  of  dismay,  and  of  anger  burst 
from  them.  Jack,  squeezing  into  a  corner  of  the  cart, 
obtained  a  view  of  the  robbers  through  a  crevice  between 
the  boards,  and  noticed  that  all  were  well  mounted, 
that  their  leader  and  two  others  wore  black  masks 


The  Outwitting  of  Tusker      321 

across  their  faces,  and  that  Ted,  the  rascal  who  had 
asked  for  aid  on  the  previous  evening,  rode  beside  the 
leader. 

"Not  here!  Why,  what's  happened?"  he  heard  the 
latter  exclaim  in  angry  tones.  "  There  were  four,  and 
now " 

"  A  minute  ago  they  lay  there,  dead  asleep,  I  could  ha' 
sworn.  Now  ef  that  don't  beat  everything!"  cried  Ted. 
"Blessed  ef  I  can  understand  it.  Unless.  Hi,  boys!" 
he  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  They've  took  ter 
the  wagon." 

At  once  the  horses  were  swung  round,  while  the  leader 
of  the  band  swung  his  arm  up,  as  if  about  to  protect  his 
face.  But  there  was  a  weapon  in  the  hand,  and  an 
instant  later  a  sharp  report  awakened  the  echoes  of  the 
valley,  while  the  missile  struck  the  tailboard  of  the 
wagon,  perforated  it  as  if  it  were  made  of  paper,  and 
encountering  the  bags  of  grass,  passed  right  through  the 
nearest,  and  was  only  arrested  when  it  had  penetrated 
the  second  as  far  as  the  far  layer  of  canvas.  Jack  felt 
the  blow,  for  his  hand  rested  against  the  bag,  and  a 
second  later  his  finger  tips  came  in  contact  with  the 
rounded  form  arrested  by  the  obstacle. 

"  Three  of  you  load  up  the  gold  bags,"  shouted  the 
leader,  in  a  voice  which  seemed  to  come  familiarly  to 
Jack's  ear.  "  The  rest  surround  the  wagon.  Thar  ain't 
no  need  ter  parley.  We  know  our  business.  Shoot 
every  one  of  them  down." 

He  swung  the  arm  up  again,  as  if  about  to  send  a 
second  bullet  crashing  into  the  cart.  But  the  action  was 
arrested  by  the  sudden  interposition  of  Steve.  A  low 
growl  had  come  from  the  little  scout  as  he  heard  the 

(0179)  21 


322  Indian  and  Scout 

commands  of  the  brigand  outside,  and,  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  his  friends,  he  was  seen  to  stand  to  his  full 
height,  in  view  of  the  enemy.  Then  his  weapon  cracked, 
and  within  the  same  instant  the  man  wearing  the  mask, 
who  was  evidently  the  leader,  toppled  from  his  saddle 
and  fell  to  the  ground. 

"Joe  Templeton,  as  I  live.  Joe  Templeton  at  last!" 
shouted  Steve,  as  if  he  had  suddenly  lost  his  senses. 
"  I  warned  yer  last  time  we  met,  and  yer  knew  well 
what  ter  expect.  Scum  like  you  has  ter  come  ter 
the  mark  sooner  or  later,  and  come  yer  have.  Joe 
Templeton,  you  aer  up  agin  Steve  this  time,  Steve 
the  hunter  and  scout,  Steve  the  miner,  whom  you 
robbed." 

There  was  a  pause  in  the  affray,  while  attackers  and 
attacked  stared  at  Steve  as  if  they  could  not  believe 
their  senses,  and  then  at  the  leader  of  the  band,  who 
lay  grovelling  upon  the  road.  Then,  with  a  sharp  cry 
Ted,  the  stranger  who  had  watched  in  the  camp  all 
night,  swung  himself  from  his  horse  and  rushed  towards 
the  wagon. 

"Down!"  cried  Jack,  seizing  Steve,  who  seemed  to  be 
filled  with  some  unusual  excitement.  "Down!  They 
are  coming." 

But  the  little  miner  hardly  seemed  to  hear  him. 
Gripping  one  of  the  bags  with  his  left  hand,  he  leaned 
against  the  pile,  his  eye  fixed  upon  the  enemy.  And 
then  such  a  stream  of  bullets  shot  from  his  weapon  that 
the  rascals  recoiled. 

"  See  here ! "  shouted  Steve,  as  if  careless  of  the  bullets. 
'  Now  that  that  man  Joe  aer  down,  and  Ted  with  him, 
there  ain't  no  call  fer  others  to  be  hurt.  Quit  touchin' 


The  Outwitting  of  Tusker      323 

those  bags  and  git.  I'll  give  yer  one  chance.  Ef  yer 
don't  take  it,  I  swear  we'll  hunt  every  mother's  son  of 
yer  down." 

Crack!  From  a  point  just  behind  where  the  enemy 
had  gathered  there  came  the  snap  of  a  revolver,  and 
Steve's  left  arm  dropped  helpless  to  his  side.  But  he 
never  winced  or  showed  that  he  was  hurt.  Instead  his 
fingers  wrapped  themselves  round  the  butt  of  his  second 
revolver,  and  the  man  who  had  just  fired  measured  his 
length  on  the  road  before  Jack  could  follow  what  was 
happening.  Then  began  a  fusillade  which  rivalled  an 
Indian  attack  for  fierceness.  Maddened  by  the  sudden 
and  unlooked-for  change  in  their  fortunes  the  brigands 
poured  their  shots  into  the  wagon,  and  would  un- 
doubtedly have  slain  Steve,  had  Abe  not  dragged  him 
down  behind  the  shelter  of  the  bags. 

"Aer  yer  crazy,  Steve?"  he  growled.  "Aer  yer  gone 
suddenly  stark  starin'  mad.  Git  down,  and  stay  thar. 
Boys,  jest  lift  a  bag  above  yer  heads,  and  fire  from 
under  it." 

But  for  that  precaution  there  is  no  doubt  that  Jack 
and  his  friends  would  have  suffered  heavily.  But  the 
bags  protected  them  wonderfully,  and  so  sharp  was  their 
own  shooting  that  presently  the  six  men  who  now  re- 
mained alive  retired  from  the  wagon. 

"  But  they  ain't  gone,"  said  Steve,  cool  and  calm 
again  after  his  unusual  excitement.  "  Ef  they  had  rifles 
with  'em  they'd  make  it  that  hot  this  cart  wouldn't 
hold  us.  Lucky  they  ain't  spotted  the  guns  we  left 
amongst  the  blankets.  Gee!  ef  we  had  'em  here  we'd 
make  'em  hop." 

"  Then  we'll  have  'em." 


324  Indian  and  Scout 

Jack  was  no  laggard  when  brave  acts  were  required, 
as  he  had  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  comrades. 
At  Steve's  words,  he  once  more  showed  the  stuff  of 
which  he  was  made.  The  brigands  had  retired  some 
hundred  yards,  but  still  remained  within  long  pistol- 
shot.  Careless  of  that,  our  hero  leaped  from  the  cart, 
walked  across  to  the  blankets  that  marked  the  spot 
where  he  and  his  comrades  had  slept,  and  sauntered 
back  with  their  rifles,  a  storm  of  bullets  whistling  about 
his  ears  as  he  did  so. 

"Now,  ef  that  ain't  madness!"  cried  Steve  angrily. 
"Ef  that  ain't  askin'  fer  a  bullet!" 

"And  copyin'  bad  examples  set  by  them  as  is  old 
enough  and  ugly  enough  ter  know  better,"  growled  Abe. 
"  It's  jest  the  answer  ter  yer  own  doin's,  Steve,  and  Jack 
aer  earned  the  thanks  of  all.  Gee!  As  ef  yer  didn't 
ought  ter  know  better." 

He  turned  scornfully  upon  the  little  scout.  Then 
a  smile  stole  across  his  features,  and  stretching  out  a 
hand  he  gripped  Steve's. 

"  Reckon  ye'd  some  special  call,"  he  said  simply. 

There  was  a  grim  look  on  the  little  man's  face  as 
he  took  Abe's  hand,  a  look  which  seemed  to  betoken 
that  the  cause  for  his  sudden  excitement  and  for  his 
rashness  was  something  beyond  him,  something  he 
could  hardly  dare  to  think  about. 

"'Cause!"  he  said,  in  hollow  tones,  moistening  his 
lips  with  his  tongue,  as  if  the  words  dried  them. 

"  'Cause But  this  ain't  the  time  to  tell  of  Joe  and 

his  doin's.  Reckon  Jack  aer  done  a  fine  thing  ter  help 
us.  Jest  get  to  with  them  rifles.  Ah,  them  critters  is 
try  in'  another  rush!" 


JACK    FETCHES  THE   RIFLES 


The  Outwitting  of  Tusker      325 

The  news  was  true.  From  the  place  to  which  they 
had  retired  the  band  of  brigands  suddenly  broke  into 
single  elements,  and  came  galloping  towards  the  cart. 
As  they  came  they  sent  a  storm  of  bullets  seething 
about  it,  chipping  and  perforating  the  woodwork,  thud- 
ding into  the  bags,  and  hissing  harmlessly  overhead, 
Two  minutes  later  they  were  within  easy  shot,  when 
Jack  and  his  comrades  returned  their  fire,  protecting 
their  heads  in  the  same  manner;  and  so  careful  was 
their  aim  that  two  more  of  the  enemy  measured  their 
full  length  on  the  ground.  There  were  shouts  of  anger 
from  those  who  remained.  One  galloped  his  horse 
recklessly  right  up  to  the  cart,  and  was  there  shot 
dead  by  Jack's  pistol,  then  the  remainder  turned  tail 
and  galloped  away  for  their  lives.  And  as  they  went 
another  accompanied  them.  Unnoticed  in  the  turmoil, 
the  leader,  who  had  fallen  to  Steve's  shot,  and  who 
was  undoubtedly  sorely  wounded,  scrambled  painfully 
to  his  feet  and  caught  a  horse  belonging  to  a  fallen 
comrade.  He  clambered  unsteadily  into  the  saddle,  his 
mask  falling  from  his  face  as  he  did  so;  and  then, 
mustering  all  his  failing  strength,  he  stood  up  in  his 
stirrups  and  shook  his  fist  at  the  cart  just  as  his 
comrades  turned  to  fly. 

"Steve,"  he  shouted,  "this  is  to  warn  you!  I  will 
kill  you  when  the  time  comes." 

Turning  his  horse,  he  clapped  spurs  to  the  flanks  and 
galloped  away.  As  he  went  a  cry  came  from  one 
of  the  inmates  of  the  wagon.  Jack  rose  to  his  feet 
shaking  with  excitement.  He  seemed  to  have  caught 
it  from  Steve,  so  closely  did  it  follow  upon  the  attack 
which  the  little  scout  had  displayed.  Bending  over 


326  Indian  and  Scout 

the   bags,   shaking  his   fist   furiously,  he   followed   the 
movements  of  the  escaping  leader  with  staring  eyes. 

"The  robber!"  he  shouted,  tears  almost  in  his  voice. 
"The  man  for  whom  I  have  suffered.  The  robber! 
Stop  him!  I  must  take  him  back  to  Hopeville  to  tell 
his  tale!  It  is  he  who  should  have  been  tried  for  that 
burglary!" 


CHAPTER  XXII 

A  Double  Recognition 

UTTERLY  oblivious  of  his  surroundings,  of  the  friends 
who  crowded  in  the  cart  at  his  side,  Jack  stood  pressing 
forward  against  the  bulwark  of  grass-stuffed  sacks,  his 
fingers  clutching  at  the  canvas,  his  attitude  and  ex- 
pression betokening  the  greatest  excitement.  He  was 
pale  to  the  lips,  save  that  a  bright,  hectic  spot  burned 
in  each  cheek,  while,  strangest  thing  of  all,  tears  coursed 
from  his  eyes  and  dribbled  down  on  his  chin. 

"Come  back!"  he  shouted.  "Come  back!  We  will 
not  fire !  Come  back  and  act  like  a  man,  if  it  be  for  the 
very  last  time." 

But  he  might  have  shouted  his  words  to  the  winds, 
for  all  the  effect  they  may  have  had.  Joe,  the  rascally 
leader  of  the  brigands — for  that  seemed  to  be  his  name, 
since  Steve  had  so  called  him — paid  no  attention  to  the 
calls.  Crouched  low  in  the  saddle,  wobbling  danger- 
ously from  side  to  side  on  account  of  his  weakness,  he 
struck  his  mount  savagely  with  the  spur,  and  went 
tearing  away  after  his  comrades. 

"  And  nothin'll  stop  the  varmint  till  we  put  hand  on 
him,  and  then  he'll  be  up  to  tricks  till  the  sheriff  and 
his  men  has  placed  a  rope  about  his  neck  and  has  swung 
him,"  growled  Steve.  "  Come,  lad,"  he  went  on  in  sooth- 


328  Indian  and  Scout 

ing  tones,  laying  a  restraining  hand  on  Jack's  shoulder. 
"  Seems  to  me  that  you,  too,  ha'  had  cause  ter  hate  that 
thar  varmint.  Wall,  I  thought  as  how  I'd  finished  with 
him,  same  as  he  thought  ter  have  done  fer  me,  this  many 
a  year  gone  by.  But  I  ain't  sorry  that  the  bullet  didn't 
kill  him,  for  by  what  you've  said  ye're  in  want  of  Joe's 
evidence.  But  don't  count  too  much  on  it,  Carrots. 
That  'ere  man  aer  the  cussedest,  the  wickedest,  that  ever 
lived  in  these  parts,  and  that's  the  true  thought  of  every 
man  as  has  come  ter  really  know  him.  Sit  down.  Let's 
have  a  smoke.  Time  enough  ter  git  followin'.  Tusker 
Joe  aer  hard  hit,  and  reckon  we'll  take  him." 

"Tusker  Joe!  Tusker  Joe!"  Jack  searched  his 
memory.  At  the  back  of  a  mind,  fully  engaged  with 
his  own  particular  troubles,  there  loomed  a  certain  re- 
collection of  that  name.  "Tusker  Joe!" 

"Ah!"  In  a  flash  it  all  came  back  to  him.  "You 
called  him  that?"  he  asked,  turning  on  Steve  and  facing 
him  eagerly.  Tell  me,  was  he  ever  a  miner?  Did  he 
work  in  these  parts  some  few  years  ago,  and  was  he 
notorious  for  anything  in  particular?" 

"  Jest  get  a  grip  of  that  'ere  pipe  and  pull  at  it,"  said 
Steve  soothingly,  coolly  filling  Jack's  pipe  and  placing 
it  between  his  lips.  "Thar's  the  coal  ter  light  it,"  he 
went  on,  stooping  over  the  fire,  and  snatching  a  glowing 
ember  with  his  fingers.  "  Now,  boys,  thar's  hosses 
round  about,  and  bags  of  gold.  Let's  get  things  tidied 
up,  then  we'll  talk.  Meanwhile  me  and  Jack'll  sit  down. 
Me,  because  I'm  wantin'  a  little  bandagin',  and  Tom 
here'll  do  it  fer  me;  and  Carrots,  'cos  he's  shook  up 
badly  about  some  matter,  and  a  man  don't  get  the 
better  of  such  troubles  when  he's  all  of  a  shake.  We're 


A  Double  Recognition         329 

jest  agoin'  ter  have  a  dram  apiece  from  the  keg,  and 
reckon,  when  you're  finished  clearin'  things  up,  him  and 
me'll  be  ready  to  talk,  and  fix  what's  to  happen  in  the 
future." 

As  cool  as  any  icicle,  the  little  scout  calmly  filled 
and  lit  his  own  pipe,  and  then  went  for  the  small  keg 
in  which  the  party  kept  their  supply  of  spirit.  For, 
though  abstemious  himself,  and  conscious  of  the  fact 
that  Jack  touched  nothing  of  an  alcoholic  nature,  Steve 
saw  that  something  was  necessary  at  the  moment 
to  help  to  pull  his  young  comrade  together.  Jack, 
indeed,  was  far  more  agitated  than  he  had  ever  been 
in  his  whole  life.  Not  even  when  first  accused  of 
that  burglary,  and  weighed  down  with  the  desperate 
feeling  of  his  own  innocence  and  helplessness,  had  he 
shown  so  much  emotion.  But  it  is  often  a  fact  that 
while  a  man  can  face  danger  and  difficulty,  can  endure 
hardship,  wrongful  accusation,  and  even  unmerited  im- 
prisonment and  punishment,  with  a  certain  amount  of 
stoicism,  yet,  when  relief  suddenly  comes  in  sight,  when 
there  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  appears  upon  the 
scene  that  something  for  which  he  has  longed — oh,  so 
much  and  so  continuously! — his  stoicism  and  fortitude 
evaporate,  the  revulsion  of  feeling  overwhelms  him,  and 
in  a  moment  he  is  changed  from  a  strong  man,  nobly 
supporting  his  burdens,  to  a  child,  helplessly  weak. 

So  it  was  with  our  hero.  A  cloud  seemed  to  have 
risen  suddenly  in  front  of  his  eyes,  a  cloud  which 
upset  his  vision,  which  turned  him  giddy,  and  mas- 
tered every  fibre  in  his  active  body.  He  sat  down 
trembling,  obediently  drank  the  contents  of  the  pannikin 
which  Steve  offered  him,  and  then  mechanically  sucked 


330  Indian  and  Scout 

at  his  pipe.  As  for  Steve,  he  doled  out  a  dram  for 
himself,  and,  having  drained  the  tin,  lay  down  to  rest 
and  watch  his  young  friend.  Meanwhile  Tom  and 
Abe  collected  five  horses  left  by  the  brigands,  laid  the 
bodies  of  those  killed  side  by  side,  and  inspected  their 
own  belongings. 

"  It  tots  up  handsome,"  exclaimed  Abe  at  length, 
rejoining  Steve  and  Jack.  "  We  started  in  with  our 
own  hosses  and  the  animals.  Now  we've  got  five  fresh 
mounts  that'll  fetch  a  nice  sum;  six  revolvers  that 
belonged  ter  them  varmint;  and,  as  if  that  warn't 
enough,  thar's  two  bags  of  real  gold  dust  in  thar 
amongst  them  bags  stuffed  with  grass.  Reckon  they 
was  laid  thar  to  open  and  show,  in  case  you  was  too 
suspicious." 

Steve  went  off  into  a  roar  of  laughter  at  the  news,  for 
he  was  wonderfully  light-hearted  now  that  his  excite- 
ment had  died  down. 

"  I  never  knew  a  band  of  rascals  so  taken  in  and 
knocked  about,"  he  cried.  "  And  ter  think  as  they've 
left  us  gold  dust  ter  add  to  our  own,  instead  of  takin' 
ours!  Wall,  I  did  think  ter  ax  that  'ere  Ted  ef  it  was 
real  gold  as  he  had  in  them  bags,  and  ef  he'd  mind  my 
squinting  at  it.  But  then,  when  I  come  to  think  it  out, 
I  seed  that  ter  do  that  would  be  ter  raise  suspicions. 
He'd  get  thinking  that  I  wasn't  satisfied  with  his  yarn. 
That  would  ha'  made  him  more  wideawake,  instead  of 
so  cocksure  that  all  was  panning  out  as  he  wished. 
Then,  guess  we  shouldn't  have  managed  ter  get  ter  that 
cart,  and " 

"  We  should  ha'  been  thar,"  said  Tom  grimly,  point- 
ing to  the  bodies  laid  reverently  side  by  side. 


A  Double  Recognition         331 

"And  now  we've  got  ter  fix  what  ter  do,"  cried 
Steve,  becoming  matter  of  fact.  "  Thar's  the  gold  to  be 
thought  of,  thar's  the  chaps  as  has  gone  down,  and 
in  course  there's  bound  ter  be  an  enquiry.  And,  last 
of  all,  thar's  them  as  got  away.  Wall?" 

He  turned  to  Abe,  as  if  seeking  an  inspiration  from 
him.  The  big,  bony  scout,  reddened  with  exposure 
to  the  sun,  and  looking  the  strong,  courageous  man  he 
was,  spoke  out  without  hesitation.  His  life,  like  that 
of  his  comrades,  allowed  of  no  hesitation.  Decisions 
had  to  be  come  to  on  the  spot,  without  delay;  for  often 
enough  a  life  was  concerned. 

"  Huh !  There  ain't  two  ways  about  it,"  he  exclaimed 
gruffly.  "The  nearest  settlement  is  jest  three  hours' 
ride  from  here,  and  sense  ye're  wounded  ye'll  be  the  one 
ter  sit  right  here  and  keep  guard.  Me  and  Tom  and 
Carrots'll  push  on  quick,  and  place  the  gold  in  the 
bank.  We'll  warn  the  sheriff,  too,  and  by  evenin'  we'll 
be  back  along  with  yer,  bringing  a  tidy  few  of  the  boys 
that  we'll  pick  up.  It  stands  to  reason  that  others  has 
suffered  from  these  varmint  wuss  than  we  have,  and 
when  they  hear  that  the  band  has  had  a  knock,  they'll 
be  out  ter  make  an  end  of  'em.  Wall,  then,  we'll  get  on 
their  tracks  by  evenin',  and  ter-morrow  night  those  of 
'em  as  is  wounded,  and  I've  a  notion  that  aer  the  case 
with  all  that's  left,  will  ha'  been  surrounded  and  took. 
That's  whar  you  and  Jack  comes  in." 

There  was  common  sense  in  the  arrangement,  and  at 
once  preparations  for  departure  were  made.  Tom  set 
to  work  to  prepare  breakfast,  for  none  had  touched  food 
so  far,  and  as  soon  as  that  was  finished  the  three  friends 
would  leave  Steve  behind  and  make  for  the  settlements 


332  Indian  and  Scout 

"And  afore  yer  go  we've  got  ter  discuss  this  other 
matter,"  said  Steve,  nursing  his  wounded  arm,  which 
Jack  had  bandaged  for  him.  "Thar  aer  this  feller 
Tusker  Joe.  Now,  I  don't  want  ter  ax  fer  any  con- 
fidences, but  Carrots  here  ha'  said  enough  ter  let  us 
know  somethin'  of  what's  been  on  his  mind.  I've 
said  afore  now  that  thar  was  a  man  somewhars  in 
America  as  would  shoot  me  on  sight,  and  fer  whom 
I'd  do  the  same  ef  I  catched  him.  Wall,  seems  that 
that  same  man  aer  the  one  fer  whom  Jack  ha'  been 
searching.  That  so?" 

He  turned  bluntly  to  our  hero  with  his  question. 

"You  have  hit  the  right  nail  on  the  head,"  he  an- 
swered simply.  "  That  man,  Tusker  Joe,  has  indeed 
had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  my  life.  I  will  tell  you 
all  about  it.  But  first  let  us  have  Steve's  tale." 

It  was  an  eager  trio  which  bent  towards  the  little 
scout  to  listen,  and  sorely  was  their  patience  tried 
as  Steve  filled  his  pipe  nonchalantly,  and,  staring  at 
the  ground,  took  ample  time  to  refresh  his  memory. 

"Wall,  you  shall  have  it,"  he  said,  "and  short  and 
to  the  point.  It's  a  dozen  years  ago,  maybe  a  little 
more,  when  I  came  over  the  mountains  ter  try  my 
luck  in  the  diggin's.  And  luck  came  my  way  right 
from  the  beginnin'.  I  struck  it  rich,  and  seemed  ter 
have  a  fortune  in  my  hand,  when  a  fever  took  me, 
and  what  with  nussing,  and  sichlike,  what  I'd  earned 
precious  near  went  altogether.  But  thar  was  enough 
ter  make  a  second  start,  and  soon  I  was  peggin'  a  claim 
down  in  another  gully  that  had  got  a  reputation  fer 
richness.  Thar  was  five  hundred  miners  thar,  and 
one  of  'em  was  Tusker  Joe.  He'd  come  fresh  that 


A  Double  Recognition         333 

way,  so  he  said,  was  lookin'  fer  a  partner,  and,  havin' 
a  bit  of  gold  with  him,  was  ready  and  willin'  ter  pay 
fer  a  share." 

"The  same  tale!"  cried  Jack,  interrupting  the  little 
scout.  "But  go  along,  Steve,  I  have  heard  the  tale 
before.  Tusker  Joe  practised  the  very  same  method 
in  another  part.  I  can  almost  tell  you  what  happened." 

"Then  you  can  tell  of  the  most  ruffianly  thing  as 
ever  a  man  did.  Mates,  if  a  man  pals  up  with  another, 
and  they  become  partners,  it  don't  say  as  thar  won't 
be  quarrels.  Rows  do  occur.  I've  seen  'em,  and  seen 
shootin'  follow.  But  partners  don't  murder  one  another. 
They  don't  go  behind  the  back  of  a  man  whose  hand 
they've  shook  friendly  an  hour  before,  and  let  off  a 
gun  right  at  'em.  That  are  the  work  of  an  utter 
scoundrel." 

There  was  indignation  in  Steve's  voice,  and  the  words 
he  uttered  brought  sympathetic  grunts  of  agreement 
from  Tom  and  Abe. 

"  Reckon  a  chap  like  that  aer  one  of  the  worst  men 
that's  ter  be  found,"  cried  Abe.  "This  Tusker  Joe, 
he  war  the  man?  Eh?  He  did  the  shootin'?" 

Steve  nodded  curtly. 

"  We'd  struck  it  rich.  Leastwise,  I  had,  fer  he  pre- 
tended ter  be  ill,  and  didn't  work.  Thar  was  a  store  of 
gold  dust  that  was  worth  the  havin'.  Wall,  this  here 
critter,  all  friendly  as  one  would  think,  stepped  down 
to  our  claim  one  evenin'  when  it  war  almost  dark, 
and  when  all  the  other  miners  had  gone  back  to  their 
shanties. 

"  How's  luck?"  he  asks,  setting  down. 

"  Same  as   afore,"   I   answered.     "  This   here  claim's 


334  Indian  and  Scout 

rich.  It'll  pan  out  handsome  fer  us,  and  then  it'll  sell 
when  we're  tired  of  it." 

"  Good,"  he  says,  "  and  then,  all  of  a  sudden,  I  knew 
nothing  more." 

"  Shot?"  demanded  Tom  in  a  whisper. 

"  From  behind,"  answered  Steve,  flicking  the  ash  from 
the  bowl  of  his  pipe.  "See  thar.  That's  where  the 
bullet  caught  me." 

He  turned  his  head  and  pointed  to  a  long,  white 
streak  behind  the  right  ear. 

"  Enough  ter  kill  a  man,"  he  proceeded,  "  but  Steve 
aer  a  hard  nut." 

The  very  thought  made  the  little  scout  chuckle. 
"A  hard  nut,"  he  repeated.  "Tusker  reckoned  he'd 
wiped  me  out,  but  he  hadn't,  and,  what's  more,  he  didn't 
have  another  chance,  fer  some  miners  happened  ter  be 
passing.  But  he  cleared  from  that  'ere  camp  with 
every  ounce  of  dust  we'd  gained,  and  with  my  bag  of 
dollars  into  the  bargain.  Gentlemen,  when  a  man 
gets  treated  like  that  he  takes  an  oath,  and  when  the 
time  comes  round,  as  come  it  must,  he  'lows  as  he  has 
a  sorter  right  ter  shoot  on  sight  the  ruffian  what's  left 
him  fer  dead.  Ter  kinder  execute  him.  That  aer  the 
long  and  the  short  of  the  story." 

The  pipe  went  to  the  mouth,  the  cheeks  caved  in 
a  little  as  he  sucked,  and  then  a  cloud  of  smoke  emerged 
from  the  hunter's  lips. 

"  I  aer  acted  up  ter  that  oath,"  he  said  quietly. 
"  Reckon  no  one  can  blame  me." 

"Not  the  sheriff  hisself,"  growled  Abe.  "Even  ef 
this  Tusker  chap  hadn't  been  one  of  the  band  as 
attacked  us,  and  ye'd  hit  up  face  ter  face  with  him 


A  Double  Recognition          335 

in  the  settlements,  yer  had  a  right,  accordin'  ter  minin' 
law,  ter  shoot  him  down  without  warnin'.  Steve,  it  aer 
clear  that  it  war  meant  fer  you  ter  get  the  best  of  this 
here  Tusker.  Reckon  his  chances  of  gettin'  off  ain't 
worth  a  how  of  chips." 

"  I  will  follow  him  till  my  horse  drops,  or  until  he 
shoots  me." 

It  was  Jack  who  had  spoken,  and  as  his  three  com- 
rades turned  to  look  at  him,  they  saw  on  the  face  of 
the  young  fellow  who  had  worked  so  well  and  so 
cheerily  with  them  such  decision  and  determination 
that  all  but  Steve  were  astonished. 

"  You  ain't  seen  Carrots  like  that  afore,"  explained 
Steve,  "but  I  have.  I  mind  the  time  when  he  treated 
me  as  ef  I  war  a  kid,  and  started  in  with  his  orders 
Jack  aer  got  some  better  reason  than  I  have  fer  follow- 
ing Tusker.  Out  with  it,  lad." 

"  Then  listen."  Briefly,  bluntly,  Jack  told  the  tale  of 
his  own  father's  death,  how  a  man  named  Tusker  Joe 
had  entered  into  partnership  with  him  at  the  mines, 
had  picked  a  quarrel  with  him  when  gold  dust  in 
considerable  quantity  had  been  obtained,  and,  having 
shot  him  down  in  a  saloon  after  the  pretence  of  a 
quarrel,  had  decamped  with  all  the  gold. 

"  Then  you  ha'  got  good  reason  fer  following  this  here 
scoundrel  of  a  Tusker,"  cried  Abe.  "  Reckon  when  a 
man's  father  aer  shot  down  like  that,  the  son  has  got  ter 
have  a  say  with  his  murderer.  I  ain't  one  as  believes  in 
revenge.  Thar's  One  above" — the  sunburned  scout 
swept  his  hat  from  his  head  for  a  moment  and  paused — 
"thar's  One  above  as  sees  ter  sech  matters  as  that  as  a 
general  rule.  But  ef  a  father's  killed  in  cold  blood,  it 


336  Indian  and  Scout 

aer  plainly  the  duty  of  his  son  ter  find  the  murderer  and 
hand  him  over  to  justice.  Jack,  give  us  yer  fist  I'm 
proud  ter  know  as  ye've  been  a  good  son." 

Each  in  turn  gripped  his  hand,  for  rough  scouts  such 
as  these  were  could  and  did  appreciate  fine  qualities  in 
other  people.  Already  Jack's  willingness  to  work,  his  un- 
failing good  temper  and  his  common  sense,  had  won  their 
esteem,  while  the  tale  of  his  behaviour  when  Steve  was 
incapacitated  had  not  failed  to  leave  its  impression  on 
them.  Believing  that  he  had  come  to  California  with 
one  object  in  view,  and  that  to  discover  his  father's 
murderer,  they  felt  he  was  a  man  they  could  honour, 
though  in  years  he  had  not  reached  man's  estate.  But 
Jack  quickly  undeceived  them. 

"Stop!"  he  cried  peremptorily.  "You  are  mistaken. 
I  did  not  come  to  California  to  discover  my  father's 
murderer.  It  was  another  man  I  was  thinking  of.  I 
came  this  way  to  escape  the  law;  for,  my  friends,  I  am 
a  runaway  prisoner." 

In  a  few  words  he  told  them  of  the  misfortune  which 
had  befallen  him,  how  he  had  been  put  on  his  trial,  and 
how,  despairing  of  obtaining  evidence  which  would  acquit 
him,  he  had  bolted  from  the  prison,  with  the  object  first 
of  making  himself  secure  from  the  officers  of  the  law, 
and,  when  that  was  securely  accomplished,  with  the  firm 
determination  of  hunting  for  that  man  who  had  come 
to  the  smithy  in  Hopeville,  and  for  whom  he  had  forged 
that  fatal  key. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  cried,  "  that  is  the  man  I  have  been 
searching  for,  with  the  feeling  all  this  while  that  some 
day  or  other  I  should  drop  across  him.  It  was  to  clear 
myself  from  the  accusation  wrongly  put  upon  me  that 


A  Double  Recognition         337 

I  came  to  California,  and  at  last  I  have  seen  the  man. 
Strange  though  it  may  seem  to  you — almost  unbeliev- 
able— yet  it  is  the  truth  indeed.  That  ruffian  who 
murdered  my  father  is  the  identical  man  who,  a  few 
years  later,  induced  me  to  forge  a  key,  and  for  whose 
crime  I  was  placed  in  the  dock.  I  have  double  reason 
to  follow  and  take  him." 

"Thunder!"  shouted  Steve. 

"Ef  that  don't  walk  right  away  with  the  prize!" 
growled  Abe,  his  teeth  closing  with  a  sharp  click  on 
the  stem  of  his  pipe. 

"And  ye've  got  as  good  cause,  better  still,  ter  shoot 
the  ruffian  when  next  yer  set  eyes  on  him,"  exclaimed 
Tom.  "  Jack,  it  aer  clear  as  it  aer  fer  you  ter  deal  with 
this  here  Tusker  Joe.  Steve  has  a  call,  and  he's  already 
had  an  innings.  Reckon  it  aer  fer  him  ter  stand  back 
a  while  and  let  yer  have  a  turn." 

"  No.  I  would  not  harm  a  hair  of  his  head,"  responded 
Jack  solemnly.  "  Listen  here,  mates.  If  I  got  to  shoot- 
ing this  man,  where,  then,  should  I  be  able  to  obtain 
evidence  of  my  own  innocence?  I  should  destroy  it 
myself,  and  with  that  evidence  goes  all  hope  of  my 
ever  clearing  myself,  or  of  my  being  able  at  any  time 
to  return  to  Hopeville  and  the  State  of  New  York." 

"  Right!  Right  to  a  '  T ',"  cried  Steve.  "  The  lad  aer 
dead  on  it  when  he  says  that,  and  I'll  tell  yer.  Ef  we 
meets  that  man,  or  any  of  the  others  yer  hope  ter  bring 
back  with  yer  from  the  settlements,  then  thar  ain't  ter 
be  any  shootin'.  He's  got  ter  be  taken  alive.  And  afore 
any  sheriff  kin  hang  him  he  aer  got  ter  come  out  with 
a  confession.  Mates,  in  these  parts  it's  lynch  law.  Ef 
a  man  robs  another  way  back  in  settled  parts  he  gets 

(0179)  22 


338  Indian  and  Scout 

imprisonment.  Ef  he  does  the  same  in  Californy, 
amongst  the  diggin's,  or  away  on  the  plains,  he  gets 
short  shrift — trial  out  in  the  open,  jedgment  by  the 
sheriff,  ef  there  happens  ter  be  one,  and  ef  thar  don't, 
then  by  his  mates ;  and  in  the  last  case,  ef  he's  declared 
guilty,  he's  shot  out  of  hand  or  strung  up  ter  a  tree. 
That's  what'll  happen  ter  Tusker.  But,  first  of  all,  he's 
got  ter  make  that  confession." 

"And  the  sooner  we  follow  him  and  his  mates  the 
better,"  cried  Abe.  "Let's  git.  So  long,  Steve!  we'll 
be  back  aginst  evenin'." 

They  strapped  their  bags  of  gold  on  the  horses,  and, 
leading  the  captured  animals,  set  off  at  a  brisk  trot, 
leaving  Steve  comfortably  seated  before  the  fire.  Some 
three  hours  later  they  reached  the  township  for  which 
they  had  been  aiming,  and  promptly  proceeded  to  the 
bank,  where  the  gold  was  carefully  weighed  out  before 
their  eyes,  its  value  appraised,  and  a  receipt  given  for  it. 
Then  Abe  led  the  way  to  the  sheriff's  residence. 

"  We've  come  on  business,"  he  said  in  his  blunt,  direct 
fashion.  "We  come  up  agin  Tusker  Joe  and  his  band 
last  night,  and  nigh  dropped  into  a  muss.  They'd  set 
a  trap  for  us,  and  thought  ter  take  us  nicely.  But  they 
hadn't  ter  do  with  miners  only  on  this  occasion.  We're 
all  hunters  and  scouts,  leastwise  with  the  exception  of 
Jack  here.  We  seed  thar  was  something  queer,  and 
when  they  opened  with  their  game  we  was  ready,  so 
it's  Tusker  and  his  men  as  fell  inter  the  muss.  Thar's 
five  killed,  and  t'others  is  hurt  I  should  say.  Tusker's 
nigh  killed." 

"Then  you  have  broken  up  the  band.  Gee!  That 
aer  good,"  said  the  sheriff,  who  had  been  a  miner  before 


A  Double  Recognition         339 

he  attained  to  his  present  position.  "That  Tusker's 
been  the  terror  of  the  camps  fer  the  last  three  months. 
They'd  heard  of  him  before  out  in  these  parts,  and,  ef  tales 
aer  true,  he  ought  to  ha'  been  had  up  fer  murder.  But 
once  he  reached  the  diggin's,  whether  he  was  wanted 
fer  murder  or  not,  he  soon  got  wanted  fer  other  crimes. 
He  and  his  gang  has  held  up  a  sight  of  gold  convoys, 
and  they  have  killed  a  goodish  few  men.  Whar  have 
they  gone?" 

"That's  a  question  thar  ain't  no  answering,  boss," 
said  Abe  promptly;  "but  we're  game  ter  follow,  and 
I'll  tell  yer  why." 

Promptly  he  proceeded  to  tell  the  sheriff  of  Steve's 
acquaintance  with  Tusker  Joe,  of  the  murder  of  Jack's 
father,  and,  finally,  of  the  burglary  which  the  rascal  had 
committed,  and  for  which  our  hero  had  very  nearly  suf- 
fered condemnation  to  a  long  term  of  imprisonment. 

"  It  aer  clear  that  the  man  has  ter  be  caught,"  added 
Abe,  "  and  that  fer  the  sake  of  Jack  here  he  has  got  ter 
be  taken  alive." 

"Jest  hop  in  and  take  a  cup  of  coffee,  gentlemen," 
said  the  sheriff.  "The  news  you  bring  is  the  best  I 
have  had  for  many  a  long  day,  for  this  Tusker  has 
been  the  terror  of  the  roads.  I'll  go  and  see  a  few  of 
my  friends,  and  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  persuade  some 
of  them  to  ride  with  us." 

An  hour  later  no  fewer  than  fifteen  men  set  off  from 
the  township  with  Jack  and  his  friends,  the  sheriff  and 
Abe  riding  at  their  head.  The  delay  in  the  departure 
had  enabled  Tom  to  find  a  buyer  for  the  horses,  so  that, 
beyond  Steve's  injury,  the  little  party  was  substantially 
better  off  after  their  affray  with  the  brigands  than  they 


340  Indian  and  Scout 

were  before.  That  evening,  as  the  shades  were  lengthen- 
ing, they  rode  up  to  the  stranded  cart,  to  discover  Steve 
smoking  his  pipe  placidly  and  warming  himself  in  front 
of  the  fire. 

"  Not  a  soul  has  passed  the  camp  all  day,"  he  reported, 
"  so  I  set  to  ter  get  on  the  tracks  of  them  'ere  fellers.  Ef 
it's  the  same  to  you  all,  gentlemen,  we'll  have  a  feed  and 
then  push  on.  The  moon'll  be  up  by  nine,  and  thar 
ain't  any  reason  why  we  shouldn't  make  the  most  of  the 
light.  Tusker  won't  be  expecting  such  haste,  most  like, 
and  so  thar'll  be  a  better  chance  of  taking  him." 

Accordingly  the  party  slipped  from  their  saddles, 
slackened  their  girths,  and,  having  watered  the  horses, 
sat  down  to  a  substantial  meal.  Two  hours  later  they 
mounted  again,  and,  led  by  Steve,  who  carried  his  in- 
jured arm  in  a  sling,  they  trotted  beneath  the  rays  of 
the  moon  down  the  straggling  road,  and,  some  three 
miles  along  it,  turned  on  to  the  grass  border,  and  struck 
across  towards  the  mountains  which  cut  across  the  sky- 
line. 

"Somewhars  up  thar  you'll  find  Tusker  Joe,  the 
murderer,  and  his  mates,"  said  Steve  solemnly,  pointing 
to  the  mountains. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

Steve  Leads  the  Way 

WEIRDLY  strange  were  the  shadows  cast  by  the  moon- 
light upon  the  earth  as  the  party  of  miners  and  hunters 
turned  from  the  road  towards  the  mountains.  The  huge 
gleaming  and  silvery  orb  hung  in  a  cloudless  sky,  typical 
of  gorgeous  California,  and  cast  her  beams  from  a  point 
behind  the  party,  so  that  the  shadows  of  the  horses 
danced  in  front  of  the  men,  thin,  and  angular,  and  mis- 
shapen, and  stretching  so  far  in  advance  that  the  lines 
of  the  horses  they  rode,  actually  so  pleasant  to  look 
upon,  were  transfigured  and  made  hideous  and  absurd. 
Above  these  same  shadows  were  those  of  the  men, 
jogging  this  way  and  that,  topped  by  a  sombrero,  and 
often  enough  by  a  sharp-cut  shadow,  denoting  the  rifle 
the  man  carried. 

"  The  gun  that's  got  ter  do  with  Tusker,"  said  Steve  as 
Jack  trotted  along  beside  him.  "  I  believe  ef  it  warn't 
fer  men  of  his  breed,  and  fer  the  saloons  and  the  bad 
spirit  that's  sold  in  'em,  thar  wouldn't  be  no  need  fer 
weapons  out  here,  save,  in  course,  fer  use  agin  them 
Injun  varmints.  Fer  California  ain't  free  of  them  alto- 
gether, and  ef  it  war,  and  we  was  unarmed,  the  critters 
would  be  pourin'  over  the  ranges  in  their  thousands, 
huntin'  fer  scalps.  Boys,  jest  take  a  word  o'  warnin' 

341 


342  Indian  and  Scout 

from  one  as  has  been  on  games  same  as  this  afore. 
Don't  ride  in  a  bunch.  Scatter,  and  spread  yerselves 
out.  Then,  ef  there's  a  man  'way  up  thar  with  his  gun 
ter  his  shoulder,  the  chances  aer  he'll  miss.  Savvy?" 

The  men  did  savvy.  The  band  who  were  riding  out 
to  capture  the  last  of  the  gang  of  ruffians  who  had 
terrorized  that  part  of  the  goldfields,  and  between  them 
had  committed  many  murders,  was  composed  of  in- 
dividuals with  an  abundance  of  experience,  For,  as 
Steve  had  said  earlier  on,  California  was  infested  by 
brigands  and  ruffians  of  the  worst  description,  who  preyed 
upon  the  miners,  and  against  whom  the  strictest  mea- 
sures were  necessary.  There  were  constant  alarms,  gold 
convoys  were  often  held  up,  and  not  infrequently  the 
sheriff  was  compelled  to  call  upon  the  citizens  of  some 
little  place  to  ride  with  him  with  the  object  of  extermi- 
nating some  of  the  ruffians.  So  it  happened  that  there 
were  always  men  to  be  found  who  had  accompanied 
such  expeditions,  and  who,  therefore,  knew  what  precau- 
tions to  take,  and  how  necessary  it  was  to  use  cunning 
and  care  when  approaching  the  enemy. 

"Jest  wait  a  bit,"  cried  Steve  after  a  while,  when 
the  party  had  traversed  some  three  miles  of  the  grass- 
grown  plain  and  were  already  on  the  foothills.  "It  ain't 
so  easy  ter  slide  from  yer  saddle  when  ye've  an  arm  in 
a  sling.  But  I  kin  do  it  if  the  hoss  aer  still.  Now  then, 
mates,  ef  one  of  yer'll  lead  that  hoss  I'll  shift  along  on 
foot  and  follow  the  trail.  Thar  ain't  no  difficulty  here- 
abouts, fer  a  child  could  see  their  marks.  But  we're 
comin'  ter  rocky  parts,  and  then  it'll  be  a  conundrum." 

Half  an  hour  later  the  climb  had  become  steeper, 
though  not  too  much  so  for  the  horses.  But  what  Steve 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  343 

had  mentioned  had  already  occurred.  They  were  on 
rocky  ground,  though  some  herbage  appeared  amidst 
the  boulders.  But  as  yet  the  little  scout,  his  eye  fixed 
upon  the  trail,  went  steadily  upward  and  onward,  never 
hesitating  for  the  particle  of  a  second. 

"They  know  as  well  as  I  do  thet  any  chap  could 
follow  so  far,"  he  said  after  a  while.  "Thar  ain't  no 
finding  a  road  free  of  grass  and  soft  places  hereabouts. 
But  up  thar  it'll  be  different.  Then  we  shall  have  ter 
nose  round  a  bit,  and  even  then  we're  pretty  safe  ter  be 
bothered." 

It  was  not  until  they  had  traversed  another  mile,  and 
were  approaching  very  steep  ground,  that  Steve  raised 
his  hand,  and  brought  the  whole  party  to  a  halt. 

"  Jest  as  I  expected,"  he  cried,  dropping  on  hands  and 
knees,  and  managing  to  scramble  along  in  spite  of  his 
damaged  arm.  "  Them  artful  critters  rode  this  far,  and 
then  halted  ter  look  around  and  choose  a  safe  line.  There 
ain't  a  blade  of  grass  above  us,  and,  in  course,  they've 
gone  right  on.  But  they  may  ha'  turned  ter  the  right  or 
ter  the  left,  and  this  here  mountain  aer  long  enough  ter 
give  'em  shelter  and  a  hidin'  place  whichever  way  they 
go.  Mates,  jest  stand  fer  a  bit.  Thar  may  be  a  trace, 
and  it'd  be  best  not  ter  override  it.  Abe,  slip  outer  yer 
saddle  and  take  a  look  round." 

It  was  ten  minutes  before  either  of  the  scouts  ven- 
tured to  speak,  meanwhile  the  remainder  of  the  party  dis- 
mounted, and,  hitching  their  reins  over  their  shoulders, 
filled  their  pipes  and  lit  them.  Steve  and  Abe,  often 
on  hands  and  knees,  covered  the  ground  in  circles,  and 
seemed  as  if  they  would  continue  in  the  same  occupa- 
tion, till  of  a  sudden  a  cry  came  from  Abe. 


344  Indian  and  Scout 

"Helloo!"  he  shouted.  "Jest  hop  along  up  here. 
Here's  somethin'." 

It  proved  to  be  a  dark  stain  on  a  patch  of  whitish 
pebbles,  and  both  he  and  Steve  pronounced  it  without 
a  moment's  hesitation  to  be  a  blood  stain. 

"That  'ere  Tusker,"  declared  Steve  with  a  grunt. 
"  He  was  feelin'  queerish,  most  like,  and  called  a  halt. 
He  rolled  out  of  his  saddle  and  lay  jest  here  till  one  of 
his  mates  come  and  picked  him  up.  Yer  can  see  thar 
was  more  than  one.  Them  stones  is  kicked  about. 
This  aer  a  find!  I  'low  as  I  war  bothered  back  thar. 
Them  critters  seemed  ter  have  clean  slipped  off  into 
air." 

"  Reckon  they  took  this  line  ter  the  right,"  answered 
Abe,  "and  I've  a  sorter  notion  that  we'll  be  able  ter 
follow,  fer  seems  ter  me  as  there's  more  of  them  stains. 
Maybe  one  of  the  bosses  is  hurt,  and  aer  leavin'  a  trail 
as  he  goes." 

In  a  little  while  Jack  and  his  friends  did  indeed  have 
displayed  before  them  an  example  which  many  might 
take  to  heart.  He  and  the  little  band  of  pursuers  had 
arrived  at  a  part  where,  if  the  enemy  were  cunning,  as 
they  undoubtedly  were,  they  ought  to  be  able  to  dis- 
appear without  leaving  so  much  as  a  track,  a  broken 
blade  of  grass,  or  a  hoof-print  to  guide  those  who  fol- 
lowed. Yet,  with  all  their  caution,  a  clear  trail  was 
left,  though  they  knew  nothing  of  it.  For  one  of  the 
horses,  shot  in  the  leg  perhaps,  imprinted  a  blood- 
stained hoof  every  yard  of  the  way  they  had  followed, 
making  pursuit  to  men  like  Steve  and  Abe  a  simple 
matter.  It  was  an  indication  of  the  fact  that,  while 
circumstances  may  for  a  while  be  favourable  to  evil- 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  345 

do*rs,  sooner  or  later  there  comes  some  unforeseen  event 
whkh  trips  them  up. 

"  Tve  know'd  a  thing  same  as  this  afore,"  said  Steve. 
"It  war  after  one  of  them  Injun  raids  'way  over  them 
mountains,  when  the  critters  had  come  out  on  the  war- 
path without  so  much  as  a  warnin'.  Wall,  they  killed 
and  scalped  every  man,  woman,  and  child  as  they  could 
drop  on,  and  fired  the  settlers'  farms  over  fifty  miles. 
George  Trueman,  he  war  a  settler,  and  it  seems  he'd 
been  'way  over  the  border  ter  see  a  man  as  was  lookin' 
ter  buy  cattle.  He  corned  back  ter  find  the  farm  a  mass 
of  blackened  cinders,  his  cattle  gone,  and  the  box  as  he 
kept  his  dollars  in  taken  clear  away.  Trueman  war 
wild.  He  war  fixed  up  ter  get  married,  and  though  he 
could  put  up  with  the  burnin'  of  the  farm,  the  loss  of  the 
money  would  pretty  nigh  ruin  him.  Yer  kin  guess  what 
happened." 

"  Followed  the  critters,  I  suppose,"  suggested  Abe. 

"  Sure.  Got  a  band  o'  men  together,  same  as  we  aer, 
and  sets  off.  Wall,  I  war  one  of  the  band,  and  pretty 
soon  I  gets  on  ter  a  trail  like  this,  made  by  a  hoss  that 
war  wounded,  but  not  so  bad  as  he  couldn't  go.  That 
trail  ran  on  fer  thirty  mile,  till  you'd  have  thought  the 
hoss  would  ha'  fallen  dead,  and  in  the  end  we  dropped 
into  them  critters,  and  George  recovered  the  money." 

"  While  this  time  we  recover  the  man,"  laughed  Abe. 
"Jest  you  hop  into  yer  saddle  agin,  Steve.  Ye'll  ride 
easy  thar,  and  it  don't  do  that  arm  no  good  walkin'  in 
these  rough  places.  Reckon  I  kin  follow  the  trail." 

Thanks  to  the  spots  of  blood,  sometimes  scattered 
sparsely  on  the  stones,  and  at  others  imprinted  in  the 
form  of  a  hoof  Abe  was  able  to  stride  along  without 


346  Indian  and  Scout 

a  halt.  For  an  hour  he  led  the  party  without  turning 
aside.  Then  suddenly  he  faced  up  the  mountain,  and 
began  to  clamber. 

"Them  critters  brought  their  hosses  up,"  he  cried 
over  his  shoulder,  "  so  guess  yer  kin  do  the  same  But 
the  goin'  aer  bad,  and  ye'd  best  be  skeary,  and  look 
out  fer  holes." 

The  place  was,  in  fact,  difficult  for  horses,  and  it 
needed  much  care  on  the  part  of  the  riders  to  take 
them  up  such  a  steep  and  rough  place.  However,  it 
was  not  long  before  the  ground  sloped  a  little  less 
steeply,  and  then  became  almost  flat.  Abe  led  the 
way  across  this  without  a  falter,  and  very  soon  Jack 
became  aware  of  the  fact  that  he  and  his  friends  were 
actually  descending. 

"  A  kinder  hollow,"  explained  Steve.  "  Precious  soon 
things'll  be  happeninV 

Scarcely  five  minutes  had  elapsed,  in  fact,  before  the 
nerves  of  these  hardy  miners  and  hunters  were  some- 
what startled  by  a  loud  report.  A  single  shot  rang  out 
from  some  point  in  advance,  and  high  up  above  them, 
while  one  of  the  horses  squealed,  plunged  heavily,  and 
then  stood  shivering  and  shaking. 

"Wall,  of  all  the  critters!"  cried  one  of  the  miners, 
slipping  from  the  injured  animal's  back.  "  I  didn't 
think  as  a  man  could  see  us  down  here  in  the  hollow, 
let  alone  train  a  gun  on  us.  Reckon  it  war  lucky  we 
war  all  spread  out.  Gently,  lass.  Yer  ain't  badly  hurt. 
This  here  aer  no  wuss  than  a  pinprick.  The  ball 
catched  her  two  inches  from  her  withers,  on  the  very 
edge  of  the  neck.  It  ain't  worth  mentioning  old  gal." 

He  patted  his  mount  soothingly,  and  soon  had  her  in 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  347 

a  happier  frame  of  mind.  Then,  dropping  the  reins  on 
her  neck,  he  left  her  to  herself,  and  within  less  than  half 
a  minute  she  was  seeking  for  grass  tufts  amongst  the 
boulders.  Meanwhile  the  other  men  had  dismounted, 
while  Steve  and  Abe  discussed  matters  with  the  sheriff. 

Bang !  From  a  point  some  seventy  yards  above  the 
heads  of  the  party,  and  a  considerable  distance  away, 
there  rang  out  another  report,  while  a  splotch  of  flame 
leaped  from  the  mountain  side.  But  it  was  gone  in  a 
moment;  and  when  Jack  fixed  his  eyes  in  that  direction 
it  was  to  see  merely  brown  rocks  and  boulders  tumbled 
haphazard  on  the  mountain  side,  and  all  bathed  in  the 
rays  of  the  moon,  rays  which  gave  a  ghostly,  eerie  ap- 
pearance to  the  surroundings.  As  for  the  bullet  which 
had  been  discharged,  it  hummed  through  the  air,  strik- 
ing a  rock  at  our  hero's  feet  with  a  resounding  clang, 
and  afterwards  glissading  off  into  space,  where  the 
ricochetting  object  set  up  a  piercing  scream  that 
added  to  the  uncanny  effect  produced  by  the  moon- 
beams. 

"  And  no  one  hurt.  That's  luck!"  sang  out  the  sheriff. 
"  Now,  gentlemen,  it  aer  clear  that  them  fellers  way  up 
thar  ha'  got  the  drop  on  us.  Down  here  the  moon 
throws  our  shadows,  and,  even  ef  they  can't  see  us,  a 
shadow  is  close  enough  ter  aim  at,  and  is  bound  to  bring 
a  bullet  precious  near  before  long.  Leave  the  hosses 
and  make  fer  the  hill.  Thar  ain't  no  use  waitin'." 

"  None,"  agreed  Steve  promptly.  "  Ef  we  stay  down 
here,  sooner  or  later,  as  Mr.  Sheriff  says,  some  of  us'll  be 
gettin'  in  the  way  of  a  bullet,  and  that  ain't  sense.  But, 
seems  to  me,  we  might  spare  three  or  four  who  aer  good 
shots  ter  lie  down  amongst  these  boulders  and  give  them 


348  Indian  and  Scout 

critters  a  shot  whenever  they  show  whar  they  aer  lo- 
cated. Thet'll  keep  'em  from  payin'  us  too  much  atten- 
tion." 

The  trusty  little  scout  was  not  the  one  to  neglect  or 
to  forget  a  precaution  at  such  a  moment,  and  his  advice 
was  hailed  with  eagerness.  It  was  dangerous  work  this 
pursuit  of  criminals,  and  more  often  than  not  men  were 
killed;  for  the  rascals  who  infested  the  goldfields  knew 
what  capture  meant.  It  ended,  in  nearly  every  instance, 
in  a  hasty  trial  and  summary  execution.  Consequently 
there  was  no  thought  of  giving  in.  The  contest  was 
always  one  almost  to  the  death. 

"Supposin'  Steve  stays  right  here,"  sang  out  Abe. 
"  He  ain't  no  good  fer  climbing  with  that  arm  of  his, 
and,  sence  it's  his  left,  he'll  be  able  ter  hold  a  gun  with 
his  right  and  rest  it  on  a  boulder.  Lively  does  it,  mates. 
Ef  we  stay  jawin',  them  critters'll  soon  be  gettin'  the 
range  of  some  of  us." 

As  he  finished  speaking,  as  if  to  impress  his  words 
upon  the  band  of  pursuers,  four  shots  rang  out  from  the 
mountain  side  above  them,  and  again  was  heard  the  thud 
of  bullets,  while  splinters  of  stone  were  scattered  broad- 
cast. 

"  Wall,  get  to  it,  Steve,"  called  out  the  sheriff,  "  and 
you  too,  Bill  Hendy  and  Frank  Gorman.  Let  'em  see 
as  you  know  how  ter  pepper  'em  with  lead,  and  keep 
at  it  with  your  guns  till  we're  pretty  close  and  handy. 
Thar  ain't  any  fear  of  your  shootin'  into  us,  'cos  the 
moon's  that  bright  yer  can  see  easy.  So  long!  Make 
it  hot  for  them  scoundrels." 

Promptly  Steve  and  the  two  men  detailed  for  the 
work  dropped  on  their  faces  amidst  the  boulders,  and, 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  349 

each  selecting  a  large  rock  which  was  high  enough  to 
give  him  shelter  from  bullets  fired  from  above,  proceeded 
to  unsling  his  rifle.  Nor  was  it  long  before  the  oppor- 
tunity came  to  them  to  fire.  Once  more  the  same  red 
splotch  of  flame  spurted  from  the  mountain  side.  It  was 
answered  almost  instantly  by  three  shots  from  below, 
and  within  the  space  of  half  a  minute  by  an  echoing 
scream  from  above.  Then  a  dark,  ill -defined  figure 
started  up  from  the  mountain  side,  and  for  a  moment 
a  man  stood  erect,  his  shadow  cast  on  the  brown  earth 
and  rocks  behind  him.  One  arm  was  raised  above  his 
head,  and  the  rays  of  the  moon  showed  that  the  hand 
gripped  a  rifle.  Thus  he  stood  for  a  few  seconds,  as 
if  staring  down  into  the  hollow  where  Steve  and  his 
mates  lay.  Then,  pitching  forward  suddenly,  he  fell 
headlong,  bringing  an  avalanche  of  smaller  stones  and 
boulders  chasing  after  him. 

"Fetched  him,"  said  Steve  coolly.  "Thar  ain't  no 
sayin'  whose  shot  it  war.  Reckon  me  and  these  two 
mates  of  mine  ha'  had  occasion  to  fire  in  similar  sar- 
cumstances  afore.  I  give  him  a  range  jest  a  foot  below 
the  flame  of  his  rifle,  and  I  guess  it  fetched  him.  Ah! 
There's  another  of  them." 

One  after  another  the  shots  rang  out  from  the  moun- 
tain side,  while  Steve  and  his  friends  replied  as  rapidly 
as  they  could.  While  they  did  so,  Jack  and  the  others 
raced  from  the  hollow  and,  using  hands  and  feet,  clam- 
bered up  the  steep  slope.  Not  a  sound  came  from  their 
ranks,  for  all  their  breath  was  required  for  the  task 
before  them.  They  never  paused  to  look  above  them, 
nor  noticed  when  the  defenders  of  the  position  stood 
out  from  their  lair  and  discharged  their  rifles  at  them. 


350  Indian  and  Scout 

They  clambered  steadily  and  quickly  upward,  leaving 
the  three  friends  below  to  look  to  their  defence,  and  to 
pour  in  such  a  fire  that  the  rascals  would  not  dare  to 
expose  themselves. 

" There  they  are!     Close  in  on  them!" 

In  his  eagerness  to  come  upon  the  ruffianly  Tusker 
Joe,  and  capture  him,  Jack  forged  ahead  of  the  others. 
He  was  younger  than  they  and  more  agile,  and,  without 
being  aware  of  the  fact,  had  rapidly  outstripped  them. 
And  now  he  suddenly  came  upon  the  lurking  place  of 
the  enemy.  Clambering  round  a  boulder  of  unusual 
proportions,  he  came  to  a  level  spot,  a  narrow  pathway 
which  ran  on  either  hand  till  it  was  lost  on  the  face  of 
the  steep  slope.  Here,  some  six  yards  to  his  left,  four 
men  were  crouching,  one  of  them  being  in  the  act  of 
firing  down  at  the  hollow  as  he  looked. 

"  Rush  them!  Down  with  them!"  Jack  shouted.  "  But 
don't  shoot  Tusker." 

Careless  of  the  consequences,  blinded  to  his  own  danger 
by  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  and  urged  to  strenuous 
exertion  by  the  ever-present  thought  that  here,  almost 
in  his  own  hands,  was  the  evidence  for  which  he  sought, 
Jack  raced  along  the  ledge,  dashed  into  the  centre  of  the 
group  of  men,  and  became  engaged  at  once  in  a  desperate 
struggle.  A  man  seemed  to  rise  up  before  him,  and  in 
a  moment  they  were  locked  together  in  an  embrace 
which  nothing  but  the  death  or  disablement  of  one  or 
other  would  terminate.  They  stood  on  the  very  edge 
of  the  ledge,  the  steep  slope  running  away  precipitously 
below  them,  and  swayed  to  and  fro,  swayed  so  far  over 
the  edge  that  it  looked  as  if  they  must  lose  their  footing 
and  fall. 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  351 

As  they  staggered  this  way  and  that,  others  of  the 
gang  of  desperadoes  clubbed  their  rifles  and  made 
every  effort  to  bring  the  butts  crashing  on  to  Jack's 
head.  But  always  some  frantic  twist  or  turn  of  the 
combatants,  some  violent  change  of  position  on  his 
part,  upset  their  aim  and  caused  them  to  fail  in  their 
object. 

Meanwhile  Steve  and  his  two  friends  below  had  ceased 
firing,  and  stood  watching  the  contest  with  staring  eyes. 
For  the  little  scout  the  moments  dragged  heavily.  The 
struggle  he  witnessed  up  there  on  the  mountain  side  was 
more  than  momentous.  It  stirred  him  to  the  deepest 
depths,  for  he  had  more  than  a  friendly  feeling  for  our 
hero. 

"  Back  him  up!"  he  bellowed,  placing  his  hands  to  his 
mouth.  "  Can't  yer  see  we  can't  help  him.  Git  to  and 
rush  them,  or  they'll  kill  him.  Gosh!  Ef  only  I  war 
there.  I'd " 

He  came  to  a  sudden  stop  and  stood  rooted  to  the 
spot,  his  heart  in  his  mouth,  a  sudden  and  unusual  feel- 
ing of  depression  about  him.  For  help  had  not  yet 
reached  our  hero.  The  brilliant  rays  of  the  moon 
showed  the  other  members  of  the  band  of  pursuers 
almost  within  reach  of  the  ledge,  but  not  quite  there. 
It  showed  also  the  figures  of  five  men  struggling  furiously 
on  the  mountain  side,  and  one  of  those  from  his  height 
and  build  was  undoubtedly  our  hero.  The  mob  of  men 
seemed  to  be  thrusting  him  from  the  ledge,  and  as  Steve 
stared  he  saw  Jack  striking  out  valiantly  with  his  fists, 
for  the  man  who  had  gripped  him  had  suddenly  let 
go  his  hold.  Then  there  was  a  shout,  and  one  of  the 
rascals  attacking  him  leaped  forward  and  wound  his 


352  Indian  and  Scout 

arms  round  Jack's  body.  Steve  shut  his  eyes  and  shud- 
dered. 

"  Gone,"  he  thought.     "  They'll  throw  him  down." 

But  no.  When  he  looked  again  the  position  of  affairs 
had  not  altered.  Jack  was  there,  on  the  very  edge,  of 
the  ledge,  staggering  to  and  fro  in  the  arms  of  the  ruf- 
fian who  had  gripped  him.  While  the  others  had  of  a 
sudden  turned  their  attention  to  the  pursuers  who  were 
now  within  striking  distance.  There  came  on  a  sudden 
the  sharp,  distinctive  snap  of  a  pistol,  and  then  a  shout 
from  Steve  which  awoke  the  echoes.  For  Jack  had  dis- 
appeared. A  second  before  he  and  his  antagonist  had 
been  poised  on  the  edge  of  the  ledge.  Now  they  were 
gone,  there  came  only  the  clatter  and  rattle  of  boulders 
and  stones  which  came  rolling  and  leaping  down  the 
mountain  side. 

"Killed!"  groaned  Steve.  "Thar  ain't  a  doubt  but 
that  they've  done  for  him." 

"  Not  they.  Jest  let's  go  and  look  for  him,"  sang  out 
Bill  Hendy.  "  I've  knowed  a  man  fall  heavier  and 
farther  by  far  than  that,  and  have  nary  a  scratch 
ter  show  fer  it.  'Sides,  he's  young,  and  young 
bones  take  a  deal  of  breakin'.  He  warn't  shot,  that 
I'll  swear.  It  war  the  sheriff's  shot  as  ended  the 
struggle." 

His  mind  full  of  doubt  and  misgiving,  and  yet,  with 
his  accustomed  courage,  still  hopeful  that  Jack  would 
prove  to  have  escaped,  Steve  led  the  way  up  the  moun- 
tain side  till  he  reached  a  spot  some  forty  feet  below  the 
ledge  on  which  the  brigands  had  taken  refuge.  And 
there  they  found  our  hero,  wedged  in  between  two 
boulders,  breathing  very  shallowly,  and  quite  uncon- 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  353 

scious.  Beneath  him  lay  the  body  of  the  man  who 
had  held  him  so  firmly  in  his  embrace. 

"  Dead?"  asked  Steve,  hardly  daring  to  ask  or  to 
touch  our  hero. 

"  No  more  nor  you  nor  me,"  came  the  hearty  answer. 
"Jest  knocked  silly,  which  ain't  ter  be  wondered  at, 
seem'  as  he's  fell  nigh  fifty  feet.  Reckon  this  here 
fellow  saved  the  fall  for  him.  He's  dead.  Dead  as 
mutton." 

"  Not  a  bone  broken,  or  I  am  much  mistaken,"  ex- 
claimed Steve,  running  his  hands  over  Jack's  limbs,  for 
in  his  eagerness  and  anxiety  the  little  scout  had  slipped 
his  wounded  arm  from  the  sling.  "Stunned.  Then 
he'll  take  no  harm.  He'll  sleep  well  to-night,  and  to- 
morrow he'll  eat  as  good  a  breakfast  as  ever  he  did. 
Wall,  mates,  what's  the  tale?" 

The  contest  was  entirely  over  by  now,  and,  within  five 
feet  of  the  spot  where  Jack  lay,  one  of  the  miners  was 
seated  on  a  rock  stolidly  smoking,  while  a  companion 
bandaged  up  an  ugly  wound  in  his  thigh. 

"Jest  a  snap  shot,  like,"  he  explained  pleasantly  to 
Steve  as  he  sucked  at  his  pipe.  "Thought  he  was 
downed  and  done  fer.  But  he  warn't,  the  critter!  He 
sits  up  sudden  and  let's  fly,  then  dropped  back  as 
dead  as  t' others." 

"Then  you  finished  'em?"  asked  Steve. 

"There  was  five  beside  Tusker  Joe,"  explained  the 
sheriff,  coming  up  at  the  moment.  "  I  got  in  a  shot  at 
the  man  who  had  collared  young  Jack,  and  I  dessay 
you  saw  'em  both  come  tumbling.  Then  two  more  was 
shot  and  wounded  afore  yer  could  count  the  seconds. 
But  they  got  clear  away  in  the  scuffle.  A  fourth  fell 

(0179)  23 


354  Indian  and  Scout 

to  a  ball  fired  from  one  of  you  three  as  we  was  mount- 
ing the  hill,  while  the  fifth  got  hit  by  a  ricochet.  Any- 
way, when  we  arrived,  there  he  war  lyin'  insensible  beside 
Tusker." 

"And  him?  He's  dead  too?"  asked  Steve,  anxiety 
in  his  voice. 

"Jest  livin'.  Played  out  after  ridin'  so  far  after  sich 
a  wound.  He'll  go  ef  we  ain't  careful." 

"  And  with  his  life  all  chance  of  Jack  gettin'  his  evi- 
dence," cried  Steve.  "  See  here,  Sheriff,  it  means  a  hull 
lot  fer  this  young  friend  of  mine,  and  seein'  what's  hap- 
pened I  feel  I  kin  count  on  you  and  the  other  mates  ter 
help.  We'll  send  along  fer  a  surgeon,  and  meanwhile 
rig  up  a  cover  fer  Tusker  and  the  other  man.  Ef  tryin'll 
do  it,  we'll  save  the  man  who  killed  Jack's  father  and 
then  led  the  young  chap  hisself  into  sech  a  scrape.  I 
can  kinder  count  on  you?" 

"Yer  kin,"  was  the  emphatic  answer.  "You  and 
your  special  mates  have  saved  us  a  hull  heap.  Tusker 
and  his  gang  were  a  real  terror,  and  we  and  other  folks 
are  grateful.  In  course  we'll  stay.  As  soon  as  the 
mornin'  comes  we'll  fix  up  a  shanty,  and  meanwhile  I'll 
send  one  of  the  men  back  to  the  settlement." 

They  were  a  practical  lot,  those  miners  and  scouts, 
and  in  a  little  while  one  of  them  was  speeding  from  the 
spot  mounted  on  the  best  horse  and  leading  another. 
Meanwhile  Jack  was  laid  on  some  piled-up  blankets, 
where  he  quickly  recovered  consciousness,  for  he  was 
merely  stunned  by  the  fall. 

"You  aer  jest  ter  lie  thar  as  ef  you  was  properly 
dead,"  smiled  Steve.  "That'll  bring  yer  round  sooner 
than  anything.  Thar's  some  coffee  in  my  haversack, 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  355 

and  in  a  while,  when  thar's  been  time  to  get  a  fire 
goin',  we'll  brew  some  of  it  extry  strong.  It'll  clear 
yer  head.  A  good  sound  sleep  after  that  aer  all  that's 
wanted." 

The  little  scout  had  picked  up  a  fund  of  information 
in  a  practical  school.  His  was  the  class  of  knowledge 
which,  combined  with  a  vast  amount  of  experience  and 
with  common  sense  beyond  the  ordinary,  is  of  real  ser- 
vice in  such  cases  as  Jack's.  It  was  not  with  him  a 
little  dangerous  knowledge,  as  is  sometimes  the  case. 

"  We  aer  got  ter  be  particular  careful  with  this  here 
Tusker,"  he  said,  when  Jack  was  securely  tucked  in  his 
blanket.  "  His  life  are  more  valuable  I  guess  than  even 
Jack's,  and  thet's  say  in'  something,  fer  the  lad  thar  aer 
a  bright  one.  Let's  jest  have  a  look  at  the  man." 

They  carried  the  wounded  and  unconscious  robber 
into  the  shadow  cast  by  a  rock,  and  there  Steve  care- 
fully inspected  his  wound. 

"  Plumb  in  the  chest,"  he  said,  as  he  opened  the  shirt, 
and  rolled  Tusker  over.  "It  aer  clear  that  the  bullet 
has  broke  through  into  the  lung,  and  as  fer  as  I  can  see 
it  don't  make  much  odds  whether  it's  gone  right  through 
or  remained  inside.  But  we'll  make  sure." 

By  dint  of  the  greatest  care  he  and  the  man  who  was 
helping  him  rolled  Tusker  over  still  farther,  only  to  dis- 
cover that  the  ball  which  had  struck  him  in  the  chest 
had  wounded  the  lung,  but  had  failed  to  emerge.  It 
seemed,  indeed,  at  first  sight,  as  if  there  was  little  left 
for  such  inexperienced  surgeons  to  do  save  to  place  the 
man  in  a  comfortable  position,  shield  him  from  the  sun, 
and  await  his  return  to  consciousness.  But  Steve  was 
a  knowing  little  fellow. 


356  Indian  and  Scout 

"  I  tell  yer  his  life's  extry  valuable,"  he  said,  standing 
up  beside  his  patient,  "  and  we  are  got  to  move  ef  we 
want  to  save  it.  Not  that  he  aer  likely  ter  pull  through. 
Reckon  this  aer  Tusker's  last  call.  Now,  mate,  lend  a 
hand.  We'll  put  some  sort  of  a  dressing  on  the  wound, 
and  then,  seeing  as  he's  still  losing  blood,  we'll  have 
ter  make  shift  ter  stop  it.  Yer  see,  it  ain't  the  bleeding 
from  the  outside  wound  that  matters.  It's  what's  coming 
from  the  lung." 

This  important  fact  had  not  escaped  Steve  and  his 
comrade.  There  was  a  deathly  pallor  about  the  robber 
chief  which  showed  that  he  was  desperately  hurt,  and 
that  the  haemorrhage  had  already  been  severe.  Then, 
too,  the  corners  of  his  mouth  were  discoloured,  while 
a  few  red  drops  hung  on  his  chin. 

"  It  stands  ter  reason,"  said  Steve,  speaking  as  if  he 
were  arguing  the  matter  out  with  himself,  "  that  nature 
aer  doing  her  best  ter  help  Tusker.  He  aer  scarcely 
breathing,  fer  the  simple  reason  thet  ef  he  was  moving 
his  chest  same  as  you  and  me,  and  with  it  his  lung,  why 
the  movement  of  the  one  that's  wounded  would  make 
the  loss  of  blood  even  wuss.  Thet  bein'  so,  we'll  take 
a  lesson  from  nature.  Lend  a  hand.  Reckon  we'll  roll 
him  on  ter  the  side  that's  damaged.  The  weight  of  his 
body  will  hold  the  ribs  still,  and  so  rest  the  wounded 
lung." 

Very  carefully  and  tenderly  did  they  set  to  work. 
An  old  but  clean  piece  of  linen  was  folded  to  form 
a  dressing,  and  was  saturated  with  clean,  cold  water. 
This  was  firmly  secured  to  the  wound  in  the  chest  by 
another  strip  of  linen.  Then  a  long  pad  was  made  with 
the  help  of  a  handkerchief,  and  some  soft  grass,  and, 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  357 

having  laid  their  pad  over  the  dressing  and  its  Dandage, 
and  round  the  chest,  Steve  cleverly  passed  a  saddle 
girth  under  his  patient,  brought  it  round  over  the  pad, 
and  pulled  it  taut,  till  it  seemed  that  he  would  arrest 
all  movement  of  the  ribs.  Then  the  patient  was  gently 
rolleji  on  to  his  wounded  side  again. 

"  Thet  aer  takin'  a  lesson  from  Mother  Nature,"  said 
Steve,  surveying  Tusker  with  some  satisfaction.  "He 
is  still  losing  blood  from  the  lung,  as  you  kin  see  from 
what's  coming  from  his  lips.  But  that  'ere  girth,  and 
layin'  him  on  his  side,  will  quieten  the  movements  of 
his  chest,  and  jest  give  him  a  chance.  Gee!  I  never 
worked  harder  to  save  a  man.  I  feel  as  anxious  about 
him  as  ef  he  war  my  father,  and,  I  kin  tell  yer,  it  means 
a  hull  heap  ter  young  Jack  thar  ef  Tusker  pulls  round." 

No  two  nurses  could  have  tended  a  patient  with 
greater  care  and  devotion  than  Steve  and  his  fellow 
worker  showed.  They  sat  down  in  turn  beside  Tusker 
Joe,  moistening  his  lips  with  water  every  now  and  again, 
whisking  the  flies  away  when  they  would  have  settled 
on  his  face,  and  holding  themselves  always  in  readiness 
to  turn  him  if  the  position  in  which  he  was  placed 
should  appear  to  be  harmful.  But  it  quickly  became 
apparent  that  Steve's  common  sense  and  his  most  valu- 
able habit  of  close  observation  were  to  be  rewarded. 
Nature,  indeed,  responded  to  the  treatment,  and  before 
long  it  was  clear  that  Tusker's  condition,  though  still 
desperate,  was  slightly  improved.  The  pallor  of  his 
face  was  not  now  so  marked,  while  there  was  little  if 
any  bleeding  from  the  lung. 

"  He  ain't  likely  ter  die  of  loss  of  blood  now,  I  reckon," 
said  Steve,  surveying  him  critically.  "  It  aer  the  shock 


358  Indian  and  Scout 

of  the  wound  that's  going  ter  kill  Tusker.  Jest  set  down 
beside  him,  mate,  while  I  have  a  look  at  Jack." 

Late  that  evening  the  man  who  had  ridden  off  to  the 
settlement  with  a  note  from  the  sheriff  returned,  and 
with  him  a  young  surgeon.  By  then  Jack  had  awakened, 
and,  but  for  a  slight  headache  and  a  good  deal  of  stiff- 
ness, was  himself  again.  Therefore  there  was  no  need 
for  him  to  have  attention.  The  surgeon  at  once  went 
to  Tusker's  side,  and  for  half  an  hour  devoted  all  his 
skill  to  him. 

"  If  he  lives  I  shall  be  surprised,"  he  said  at  last,  when 
he  had  done  all  that  was  possible.  "  I  calculate  that 
the  ball  was  travelling  in  such  a  direction  that  it  must 
have  perforated  the  upper  part  of  the  lung — a  part,  in 
fact,  of  vital  importance,  seeing  the  size  of  the  vessels 
there.  In  any  case,  the  man  who  looked  to  him  at  first 
and  bandaged  him  deserves  a  medal.  It  was  the  only 
treatment  to  adopt.  I  couldn't  have  done  more  myself. 
You  can  see  for  yourselves  that,  beyond  replacing  the 
dressing  with  one  of  suitable  material,  I  have  made  no 
alteration." 

Steve  went  red  at  such  commendation.  "Yer  don't 
live  out  on  the  plains  fer  nothing,  mister,"  he  growled. 
"Still,  I'm  glad  we  did  the  right  thing." 

"  You  can  take  my  word  for  it  that  you  did,"  was  the 
hearty  answer.  "All  that  I  can  suggest  now  refers  to 
nourishment  and  covering." 

The  night  which  followed  was  an  anxious  one  in  the 
camp.  Jack  could  scarcely  sleep  for  worrying,  while 
Steve  was  on  his  feet  continually,  hovering  about  the 
wounded  man;  for  it  was  by  no  means  certain  that 
Tusker  would  live  even  long  enough  to  regain  con- 


Steve  Leads  the  Way  359 

sciousness,  and,  if  he  were  to  regain  his  senses,  who 
could  say  whether  he  could  or  would  provide  that  evi- 
dence which  was  of  such  vital  importance  to  Jack, 
and  alone  could  clear  him  of  the  accusation  for  which 
he  had  been  tried,  and  so  nearly  imprisoned.  It  was 
yet  to  be  seen  if  our  hero  would  ever  clear  his  name, 
or  be  able  to  return  to  Hopeville  in  safety,  and  there 
prove,  beyond  a  question  of  doubt,  that  he  was  entirely 
guiltless. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

A  Great  Acquittal 

LET  the  reader  imagine  with  what  anxiety  Jack  and 
his  friends  watched  the  struggle  between  life  and  death 
taking  place  in  the  case  of  Tusker  Joe.  There  were 
days  and  days  when  the  man  lay  an  inert  mass,  uncon- 
scious, and  too  weak  to  move.  Days  when  it  appeared 
as  if  each  minute  would  prove  his  last.  Then,  when  all 
seemed  lost,  the  brigand's  extraordinary  vitality  gave 
him  strength  to  rally.  He  turned  the  corner,  mended 
slowly,  and  was  at  length  strong  enough  to  speak. 

"  And  now  we  kin  move  him  ter  the  settlement,"  said 
the  sheriff,  who  had  been  in  almost  daily  attendance. 
He  had,  in  fact,  been  a  stanch  friend  to  Jack  and  his 
mates,  and  had  sent  tents  and  provisions  to  them. 
"  Once  we  have  him  and  his  comrade  in  the  settlement, 
we'll  get  a  couple  of  lawyers  to  come  along  with  us,  and 
we'll  hold  a  sorter  court,  with  witnesses  ter  take  note  of 
everything.  In  course  he  may  refuse  to  speak.  But 
Tusker  aer  on  the  long  road.  He's  mended  so  far,  but 
that  hurt  aer  goin'  ter  prove  fatal." 

That,  indeed,  had  been  the  opinion  of  the  surgeon, 
who  also  had  made  more  than  one  trip  out  to  the  tem- 
porary camp  beside  the  mountain,  where  the  last  of  the 
brigands  had  been  run  to  earth. 


A  Great  Acquittal  361 

"Shot  through  the  chest,"  he  declared  grimly,  "and 
may  or  may  not  make  a  recovery;  but  in  any  case  it 
will  be  but  temporary.  My  experience  teaches  me  that 
the  man's  days  are  numbered." 

However,  Tusker  improved  to  such  an  extent  that  it 
became  possible  to  move  him.  He  was  taken  in  a  cart 
to  the  settlement,  his  wounded  mate  riding  with  him. 
As  for  the  latter,  he  was  even  more  grievously  hurt, 
and  his  life  still  hung  in  the  balance. 

"We  might  wait  here  a  month  and  he  be  still  the 
same,"  said  the  surgeon.  "We  will  risk  moving  him. 
There  is  no  other  alternative." 

All  this  while  Jack  had  been  careful  to  keep  away 
from  the  injured  men.  He  had  ridden  back  to  the 
mine  to  report  to  Tom  and  the  others  what  had  hap- 
pened, and  had  found  them  industriously  delving  and 
washing  dirt  in  the  cradles.  They  declared  to  him  that 
the  yield  was,  if  anything,  improving,  and  that  there 
seemed  to  be  a  wealth  of  the  shining  metal  still  to  be 
regained. 

"There  ain't  a  doubt  but  what  we've  hit  it  rich," 
declared  Tom  the  evening  Jack  arrived,  "and  ef  we 
get  the  stuff  ter  the  bank  without  meeting  with  any  of 
the  gentry  as  tried  ter  waylay  you,  we'll  all  have  fortunes 
to  our  name.  So  you've  got  that  man  at  last,  Carrots? 
Don't  you  be  downhearted.  That  Tusker  will  out  with 
his  evidence,  and  ye'll  be  cleared.  They'll  shout  them- 
selve  hoarse  when  yer  get  back  to  Hopeville.  Mean- 
while me  and  the  mates  go  on,  and  shares  are  divided 
same  as  before,  so  you,  and  Steve,  and  Tom,  and  Abe'll 
lose  nothing.  That's  doin'  things  fair  and  square,  same 
as  we've  always  done." 


362  Indian  and  Scout 

When  Jack  got  back  to  the  settlement,  where  Tusker 
was  being  cared  for,  Steve  greeted  him  eagerly. 

"  He'll  talk,  he  will!"  he  cried.  "  I've  been  in  ter  see 
the  man,  and,  I  tell  yer,  he's  changed.  He  reckons  he's 
got  the  last  call,  and  ain't  much  longer  fer  this  world. 
He  jest  begged  me  ter  overlook  old  days,  and  forgive 
him  for  what  he's  done.  That  bein'  his  mood,  seems 
ter  me  as  you'd  best  see  him." 

That  very  evening,  in  fact,  the  surgeon  having  been 
consulted,  Jack  was  ushered  into  the  little  wooden 
shanty  where  the  wounded  brigand  lay.  He  was 
propped  up  in  bed,  and  our  hero  was  shocked  at 
his  appearance.  The  man  was  desperately  thin  and 
cadaverous,  while  there  were  heavy  lines  under  his 
eyes. 

"  Tusker,"  said  Steve  solemnly,  "  I've  brought  a  young 
friend  of  mine  ter  see  you,  and  afore  yer  take  a  look  at 
him,  or  git  talkin',  I'd  like  to  give  you  his  history.  Aer 
you  game  ter  listen?" 

The  wounded  man  motioned  Steve  to  a  chair,  and 
scarcely  looked  at  our  hero. 

"  Speak  1"  he  said  in  a  voice  little  above  a  whisper. 
"I  will  listen." 

"Then,  here's  the  yarn.  Jack  Kingsley  aer  the  son 
of  a  man  called  Tom — Tom  Kingsley,  from  New  York 
State — known  in  the  minin'  camps  a  dozen  years  ago 
as  '  Lord  Tom '.  He  war  shot  in  a  saloon  by  one 
called " 

"Stop!"  Tusker  Joe's  voice  rose  almost  to  a  scream. 
"I  know — I  know  the  tale  only  too  well.  Believe  me, 
mates,  I  would  give  the  whole  of  my  past  life  if  I  could 
undo  what  I  have  done.  The  memorv  of  those  crimes 


A  Great  Acquittal  363 

haunts  me.  And  this  is  the  son?  I  beg  of  him,  I — 
I " 

"  That's  done  with,  mate,"  said  Steve  kindly.  "  Thar 
comes  a  day  when  every  man,  as  he  looks  back,  sees 
things  as  he  might  ha'  done  better,  things  that  shame 
him  and  make  him  wince.  Ef  ye've  turned,  as  I  be- 
lieve yer  have,  why,  then,  I  reckon  your  sorrow  aer 
downright  genuine.  Yer  can't  give  Lord  Tom's  life 
back  to  his  son,  so  we'll  let  the  matter  be  a  bygone. 
But  thar's  more  to  tell,  Tusker;  more  as  has  ter  do 
with  your  actions.  Listen  for  a  spell." 

The  little  scout  moistened  his  lips,  and  looked  from 
Jack  to  the  sick  man.  At  any  other  time  he  would 
have  despised  himself  for  tormenting  a  poor  wretch 
with  such  a  tale,  for  torment  the  words  he  had  uttered 
had  been  to  Tusker.  The  man's  drawn  face  showed  it. 
It  was  cruel  to  persevere  with  the  story,  yet  here,  on 
this  man's  slender  life,  lay  the  success  or  failure  of 
Jack's  existence. 

"Wall,  you've  got  ter  hear  it,"  said  the  little  hunter, 
as  gently  as  he  could,  "fer  Jack  here  ain't  never  done 
nothin'  ter  harm  you.  He's  as  clean  and  straight  and 
plucky  a  young  fellow  as  ever  I  met,  and  ef  ye're  true 
to  yerself,  Tusker,  he'll  be  able  ter  go  back  home  ter  his 
friends,  and  hold  his  head  up  before  the  world.  Tusker, 
thar  was  a  man  same  as  you  came  to  a  town  called 
Hopeville,  this  many  months  back,  and  got  a  young 
smith  ter  forge  a  key,  stuffin'  him  with  some  simple  yarn. 
That  young  chap  war  Jack  here.  He  got  suspicious, 
and  happened  by  chance  ter  discover  that  the  man  fer 
whom  he'd  made  the  key  were  about  ter  attempt  a  bur- 
glary with  a  mate.  He  followed  them,  got  right  inter 


364  Indian  and  Scout 

the  house,  and  then  war  set  upon  by  a  caretaker  who 
took  him  fer  one  of  the  burglars.  Jack  here  war  floored, 
and  then  the  caretaker  war  shot  by  the  burglars,  who 
got  clear  away.  Wall,  when  the  officer  came,  the  man  as 
war  hurt  declared  that  Jack  war  one  of  the  gang,  and 
then  died  right  off.  Thar  warn't  no  one  to  clear  Jack, 
no  one  ter  prove  as  he  wasn't  one  of  the  gang,  and  he 
war  put  up  fer  trial.  He'd  have  had  ten  years'  imprison- 
ment ef  he  hadn't  bolted,  and  ef  he  ever  goes  back  east 
he's  sure  to  be  taken.  Tusker,  the  man  who  come  fer 
that  key  war  you.  You're  the  only  one  as  kin  clear 
Jack  and  set  him  on  his  legs  agin." 

It  was  a  long  speech.  Steve  had  probably  never 
before  made  such  a  lengthy  one,  and  at  the  end  he 
drew  his  hand  across  his  forehead  to  wipe  the  perspira- 
tion away.  Jack  stepped  into  the  centre  of  the  room, 
where  the  light  fell  full  upon  him,  while  the  sick  man  sat 
upright  and  stared  eagerly  into  his  face.  Then  he  fell 
back  wearily. 

"  Everywhar  the  tale  is  the  same,"  he  groaned.  "  I 
have  indeed  done  miserably  with  my  life.  I  acknow- 
ledge that  I  was  that  man.  Show  me  how  I  kin  help 
ter  right  the  wrong  I  have  done." 

Waiting  outside  were  the  surgeon,  the  sheriff  and  two 
lawyers,  besides  a  couple  of  independent  witnesses,  and 
Steve  promptly  ushered  them  in. 

«  He'll  speak,"  he  said.     "  He  acknowledges  all." 

"Then  we  will  get  to  business.  See  here,  Tusker," 
said  the  sheriff  kindly,  taking  the  sick  man's  hand, 
"ye've  got  a  real  good  chance  ter  do  a  good  turn  ter 
one  ye've  harmed.  We've  witnesses  here.  Tell  us 
the  tale  of  this  burglary.  Describe  the  place,  the  house, 


A  Great  Acquittal  365 

the  rooms  you  entered,  everything,  in  fact,  that  hap- 
pened. Then,  when  the  evidence  is  sent  to  Hopeville} 
thar  won't  be  a  shadow  of  doubt  but  that  you  war 
the  man." 

It  took  more  than  an  hour  to  take  down  the  evidence, 
and  true  to  his  word  Tusker  gave  every  detail.  Sketches 
were  drawn  of  the  house  from  his  directions,  the  name 
and  address  of  the  owner  of  the  cart  he  had  hired  were 
forthcoming,  while  he  was  even  able  to  give  the  name  of 
the  man  who  had  received  the  goods  he  had  stolen. 

"  And  now,"  he  said,  more  cheerfully,  as  if  his  action 
had  taken  some  of  the  load  from  his  mind,  "  I've  heard 
that  James  Benson  war  the  only  other  man  of  the  gang 
caught  alive,  and  that,  like  me,  he  ain't  much  longer  fer 
this  world.  Wall,  I  said  I'd  do  all  I  can.  James  war  in  that 
burglary  too.  Ef  you  want  corroboration  of  the  evidence, 
see  him.  Tell  him  I've  spoken.  Take  his  evidence 
separately.  Thar  won't,  then,  be  a  shadow  of  doubt." 

The  other  man,  who  alone  with  Tusker  had  lived  to 
be  captured,  promptly  agreed  to  tell  his  story  when 
he  heard  what  his  chief  had  done.  And,  as  may  be 
imagined,  the  sheriff  and  his  witnesses  very  carefully 
entered  every  particular,  getting  the  man  to  sign  his 
confession  just  as  Tusker  had  done. 

"That's  enough  to  clear  a  judge,"  said  the  sheriff, 
delight  in  his  voice,  when  they  had  retired  from  the 
house.  "  Now,  there's  jest  one  more  thing  as  the  lawyers 
advise,  and  I  agree  with  them  that  it  would  be  well  ef 
it  war  done.  We'll  call  in  two  more  sheriffs  from  the 
nearest  townships,  read  this  evidence  over  before  them, 
and  before  Tusker  and  the  man  James,  and  then  get 
them  to  attach  their  signatures  and  official  seals.  The 


366  Indian  and  Scout 

expense  will  be  trifling,  and  I'm  sure  havin'  everythin' 
so  up  to  date  and  orderly  will  prevent  any  little  hitch 
arising.  In  course,  ef  it  war  possible,  I'd  say:  Take 
Tusker  and  the  other  man  right  east  with  you  to  Hope- 
ville.  But  that  ain't  ter  be  thought  of.  The  journey 
would  kill  them." 

A  week  later  our  hero  set  out  for  San  Francisco,  Steve 
and  one  of  the  lawyers  accompanying  him. 

"  It  aer  worth  the  expense,"  said  Steve,  when  it  was 
first  suggested  that  a  lawyer  should  be  taken.  "  He'll 
be  able  ter  prove  the  papers  and  the  seals,  and  kin 
act  as  defence  for  yen  In  course  ye'll  have  ter  sur- 
render ter  justice,  and  then  apply  fer  bail.  We'll  draw 
some  of  our  gains  before  movin'." 

Two  months  later  they  arrived  in  Hopeville,  and  Jack 
nearly  startled  the  kindly  James  Orring  out  of  his  senses 
when  he  suddenly  appeared  at  the  forge.  James  stared 
at  him  as  if  he  were  a  ghost,  gripped  his  hand,  and  then, 
sinking  his  voice,  and  looking  hastily  over  his  shoulder, 
drew  his  late  apprentice  into  the  back  of  the  smithy. 

"Glad,  right  glad  to  see  yer,  Jack,"  he  said  heartily; 
"but  this  aer  rank  foolishness.  Thar's  never  a  day 
passes  but  what  Simpkins  the  constable  gits  nosing 
round  here,  as  ef  he  expected  ter  suddenly  find  yer.  He 
ain't  been  to-day.  Guess  he'll  be  about  afore  very  long. 
Wall,  what  aer  it?  Short  of  money,  lad?" 

Jack  laughed,  and,  dipping  his  hand  into  his  pocket, 
pulled  out  a  roll  of  dollar  bills.  "  Thanks,  no,"  he  said, 
still  smiling.  "  I've  come  to  hand  myself  over  to  the 
constable,  please.  Will  you  send  for  him?" 

It  was  a  day  of  excitement  for  Hopeville,  and  for 
James  and  his  wife  in  particular.  Quick  as  a  flash 


A  Great  Acquittal  367 

the  news  spread  that  the  young  smith  who  had  made 
such  a  sensational  escape  from  prison,  and  was  being 
tried  for  burglary,  had  suddenly  returned  to  face  the 
justices.  The  rumour  brought  the  pompous  Simpkins 
bouncing  along,  and  in  a  trice  he  had  apprehended 
Jack. 

"At  last!"  he  cried  in  triumph.  "Back  you  come  to 
the  jail." 

"Stop,  constable,  I  am  a  lawyer.  I  hold  in  this  bag 
certain  evidence  of  Mr.  Jack  Kingsley's  innocence,"  ex- 
claimed the  lawyer,  stepping  forward.  "  My  client  hands 
himself  over  to  the  authorities  of  his  own  free  will.  We 
will  walk  to  the  office  quietly,  if  you  please." 

The  lawyer's  air  of  authority,  and  Jack's  obvious 
elation,  cooled  the  ardour  of  the  constable,  and,  seeing 
that  recourse  to  harsh  measures  might  lead  him  into 
trouble,  he  surlily  agreed  to  accompany  them  to  the 
station.  Once  there,  Jack  was  placed  in  the  dock,  for 
the  justices  happened  to  be  sitting;  and  within  an  hour 
he  was  set  at  liberty,  on  bail.  There  is  no  need  to 
describe  how  he  was  again  put  on  his  trial,  and  how, 
within  two  days  of  its  commencement,  he  was  acquitted, 
and  discharged,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  populace.  In- 
deed, he  was  become  a  hero,  for  Steve's  tongue  had 
been  wagging  more  than  it  had  ever  done  before.  The 
people  of  Hopeville  knew  now  that  the  young  smith  was 
not  only  entirely  innocent,  but  that  he  was  a  lad  after 
the  real  heart  of  an  American,  and  one  of  whom  they 
ought  to  be  proud.  Moreover,  he  was  rich.  Yes,  Jack 
was  rich,  and  proved  it;  for  when  he  set  his  face  again 
for  California  he  left  James  Orring  and  his  wife  com- 
fortably housed  in  a  place  of  their  own,  with  a  goodly 


368  Indian  and  Scout 

sum  to  keep  them,  and  a  man  installed  in  the  smithy  to 
help  with  the  work.  His  mother  and  other  friends  had 
also  tasted  of  his  generosity,  while  the  constable  and  he 
had  buried  the  hatchet,  and  were  become  fast  friends. 

Jack  returned  with  Steve  to  the  mine  in  California, 
and,  when  it  was  sold,  went  back  to  New  York  State. 
But  he  did  not  idle  his  time  away.  He  set  up  a  number 
of  smithies  throughout  the  country,  and  managed  them 
ably.  When  he  was  not  travelling  between  one  and 
another,  he  devoted  all  his  time  and  energies  to  a  special 
hobby.  Recollecting  his  own  strange  and  anxious  ex- 
perience, Jack  studied  the  records  of  all  criminal  cases 
where  the  evidence  had  been  contradictory  and  there 
seemed  a  possibility  that  an  innocent  man  had  been 
convicted.  Expert  lawyers  and  detectives  advised  him, 
and  though  he  was  not  often  successful,  yet  it  is  pleasant 
to  have  to  relate  that,  now  and  again,  in  the  course 
of  years,  he  was  able  to  bring  relief  to  some  poor  fellow. 
Thus  did  he  make  good  use  of  the  gold  he  and  Tom  and 
the  others  had  obtained  in  California.  He  married  in 
due  course,  and  lived  to  a  fine  old  age.  To-day  there  is 
no  name  held  in  higher  esteem  or  remembered  more 
kindly  than  that  of  Jack  Kingsley. 


